Disabled people are fighting back against government plans that will see more than £5 billion cut from spending on disability benefits, which are set to push hundreds of thousands further into poverty. The Pathways to Work green paper, published on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, left many key questions unanswered, including exactly how much the Labour government plans to cut and how many disabled people it expects to lose out. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, repeatedly refused to release these figures until next week’s spring statement, although she informed MPs that the cuts would exceed £5 billion.
There is likely to be anger at the comments of Sir Stephen Timms, the minister for social security and disability, who claimed that the changes would “ensure that personal independence payment is financially sustainable in the long term… and that will reassure a very large number of people for whom PIP is vitally important.” Kendall and other ministers also ignored the concerns of many disabled activists about the risk of harm to those affected, with many having fought for years to highlight the devastating consequences of similar cuts and reforms during the post-2010 austerity years.
The green paper changes will only apply to England, Scotland, and Wales, while key measures on personal independence payment (PIP) will not apply to Scotland, which manages its own adult disability payment but will be affected by the spending cuts; some measures on employment support will not apply to Wales. Most cuts appear to stem from PIP, where it will become significantly more difficult to receive the daily living element, with these changes planned to be introduced from 2026 through new legislation.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has claimed that the cuts are necessary due to the “spiralling health and disability benefits bill.” However, the lack of justification for the PIP cuts has been stark, especially amid the ongoing NHS crisis, rising retirement age, and pandemic-related impacts on long-term health. This absence of reasoning was evident as ministers consistently defended the cuts to out-of-work benefits instead.
Disabled individuals have voiced their fear and anger regarding these changes. One person, David, currently receiving PIP, expressed, “This is an existential threat. The government is coming for us, for me, for people like me. And if we lose this fight, which it seems we will, many will die. Without PIP, how am I supposed to pay the bills? How am I supposed to buy food?” He further elaborated that the policy seems designed to crush and starve individuals that rely on these benefits.
Additionally, ministers plan to scrap the work capability assessment (WCA) starting in 2028, opting instead to use the PIP assessment to determine eligibility for the health element top-up within universal credit. In a troubling move for new claimants, the health element’s payment rate will drop from £97 per week to £50 by 2026-27, while existing claimants will see theirs frozen until 2029-30.
New regulations also stipulate that young disabled individuals will not be eligible for the health element until they reach 22 years of age starting in 2027. The government is consulting on the possibility of raising the application age for transitioning from disability living allowance to PIP from 16 to 18, which could further cut spending. Nonetheless, there is an acknowledgment of an additional £1 billion being allocated to employment support initiatives.
The green paper reflects a significant change in strategy, with almost every disabled person receiving the health element of universal credit now required to engage regularly with the DWP about their job aspirations, commencing on a voluntary test basis this year. This increased engagement with nearly all claimants is marked as a key feature of the reformed system, which contains the threat of sanctions as a final resort.
From 2028, indefinite entitlement to contributory employment and support allowance for people deemed to have limited capability for work-related activity will also be eliminated. The government is currently consulting on how long entitlement for a new replacement benefit – unemployment insurance – should last.
Peter, another disabled individual who currently receives contributory ESA, stated, “The scrapping of this support is immoral… these proposals are cruel, unjustifiable, and need to be opposed by any means.” The green paper plans also include an increase in face-to-face PIP assessments, the recording of all assessments, and a review of the PIP assessment process.
Active consideration is being given to the future of the Access to Work program, although significant uncertainty exists regarding how forthcoming “potential future approaches” would impact disabled participants. There is speculation that a reduction in funding for Access to Work may occur, which has seen its budget increase from £142 million in 2019-20 to an expected £385 million by 2025-26. Furthermore, discussions regarding a new safeguarding approach have been foreshadowed, but limited details have been released about how this might enhance the department’s current system.
The legality of the green paper, which doubles as a consultation document, has been brought into question, particularly because it poses leading questions and omits key details about which disabled individuals will be affected. Many have sought clarity online, leading to increasing concern and confusion among disabled recipients about the impact of these changes.To add to their distress, not all key proposals are subject to public consultation; rather, some will be enacted without public feedback.
Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) has reported being overwhelmed with requests for membership since Kendall's announcements, with individuals expressing terror and anxiety at the proposed measures. On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, DPAC will stage a national day of action in protest. Planned demonstrations outside 10 Downing Street will coincide with lobbying MPs and partnering with other organizations for joint protests.
Paula Peters, a member of DPAC’s national steering group, encouraged participation, stating, “All disabled people and allies should join us on the streets and online under the #WelfareNotWarfare banner.”
Not their real names. *Help and support for those affected can be accessed through various organizations, including Mind, Papyrus, Rethink, Samaritans, and SOS Silence of Suicide.
