The Department for Work and Pensions has responded to calls for individuals with disabilities who ‘cannot work’ to be exempt from any benefits cuts. This comes as millions of benefits recipients fear the changes due to take effect in November 2026.
The government plans to focus personal independence payments (Pip) on those with higher needs, tightening eligibility requirements. This could result in many current recipients missing out as the government aims to cut £5 billion from the benefits budget.
The Office of Budget Responsibility has analysed these changes, stating that the main savings would come from tightening Pip eligibility, reducing payments for approximately 800,000 claimants, and decreasing the level of health-related universal credit for three million families. The proposed changes to Pip and the health element of universal credit (UC) have sparked serious warnings and calls for reconsideration.
The Resolution Foundation think tank estimates that changes to Pip could lead to between 800,000 and 1.2 million people in England and Wales losing support of between £4,200 and £6,300 annually by the end of the decade. A petition on the parliament website calling for the government to ‘protect disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits’ has garnered over 10,000 signatures.
The petitioners have made a clear demand to the Government: “We want the Government to halt all planned benefit cuts for disabled people unable to work. Instead of reducing benefits, we want them to rise in line with inflation. We want support, not hardship and deprivation, for those who cannot work.”
They argue that those affected by acquired disabilities deserve support due to their previous tax contributions: “We feel that disabled people who cannot work should not have their benefits cut. Acquired Disabilities can end careers, and we feel that those who previously contributed to tax deserve support.”
Furthermore, they stress the need for consistent aid for those born with disabilities: “We also believe that people born Disabled need steady support without cuts. We feel the pandemic widened the gap between current financial support and the extra cost of living for Disabled people; these proposed cuts will worsen this.”
The petitioners also highlight the potential negative impact on the NHS: “We think forcing people to work will strain the fragile NHS and that Disabled people should not be punished for being unable to work.”
The DWP has now responded after the petition surpassed the 10,000 signature mark. The DWP‘s response underscores the perceived inefficiency of the welfare system: “It said: ‘Our welfare system is broken, costing almost a third as much as it does to run the NHS in England while leaving people for years on benefits with no offer of support, no hope of a future in work and no opportunity to improve their standard of living.'”.
“Working-age adults who are in work are three times less likely to be in poverty than those out of work. We need to act to end the inequality that sees disabled people and people with health conditions trapped out of jobs, despite many wanting to work, and ensure our welfare system is there for people who need it, now and long into the future.
“The proposed changes to Universal Credit rates mean that we will not be increasing all benefits in line with inflation as requested in the e-petition. We are, however, increasing the standard allowance of UC for both new and existing claims.
“Other benefits, including PIP, will be increased at least in line with inflation which is the statutory minimum. The changes will not come into force immediately – the changes to Universal Credit rates and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility will be implemented from 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.
“It is important that Members of Parliament have opportunity to consider and debate all changes before they are implemented.”
The proposals are currently a green paper and are still under consideration before implementation. If individuals wish to express their views, they can do so by clicking here.
If the petition garners 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.
To support the petition and to read the DWP‘s comprehensive response, click here.
