This week, the government will vote on the controversial new reforms to the welfare system proposed by ministers in March this year. These reforms as they were first tabled included measures that would attempt to save the government £5 billion by tightening eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP). GMLC and others argued that the changes would leave nearly a million disabled people in deep poverty. GMLC and others raised the government’s lack of inquiry into the number of people the cuts could leave homeless. On the government’s own admission, much of the impact of these cuts has not been considered.
In the face of principled opposition from over 130 MPs, disability rights charities, trade unions and the public, the government last week offered some concessions, including removing current disability benefit claimants from those who would be affected by the changes.
It remains to be seen whether large numbers of MPs will still rebel tomorrow.
GMLC considers that MPs should continue to reject the reforms as they are proposed. The reforms should be scrapped and no new reforms proposed until the government has reviewed their changes and completed a full impact assessment on how they will affect disabled people’s lives.
Will the cuts help disabled people work?
The government initially claimed that the reforms are intended to improve the benefits system to enable more disabled people to get into work. They still claim that the reforms are to achieve “greater certainty, independence, and dignity for disabled people”.
It is important to point out that on the last assessment, a majority (around 53%) of disabled people of working age are already in work. A minority of disabled people are unemployed and want to work, but struggle to hold down work due to employers’ discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments, a lack of free healthcare and support, and punitive measures in the benefits system that affect their entitlements when they do obtain paid work. Some disabled people will not be able to carry out paid work, and they should remain supported: people’s dignity should not be reliant on their productivity.
GMLC’s benefits advisors work closely with disabled people in Greater Manchester. We see the way PIP and other disability benefits are used by our clients, as well as the support and guidance available to them. We are of the view that the proposed changes would not achieve the aims the government lays out. Instead, it appears that the cuts are primarily designed to save the government money – at disabled people’s expense. Looking at past examples of austerity and cost-saving measures being brought in at the DWP, even that goal would be unlikely to be met.
Will the cuts save the government money?
For a government, cutting costs is not as simple as pressing a button to reduce what gets paid out. Even putting the costs of administering these reforms aside, cuts to disability benefits are likely to result in increased expenditure in other parts of government. The increased incidence of disability in the population is not a coincidence: it follows the Covid pandemic and cuts to healthcare and social care services over the last 15 years.
PIP is paid to help disabled people pay for their additional needs. Cutting their PIP does not change their needs.
The costs of looking after disabled people’s needs – including topping up housing benefit, ensuring they can pay the costs of care, adapting their accommodation etc. – would need to be shouldered by local authorities or other public services. For claimants spending some of their PIP on their rent to avoid homelessness, they may become homeless or require discretionary housing payments to cover unaffordable rents. For those spending their PIP on privately funded care, they may need to turn to public healthcare or social care services. If public services cannot pay for this, there is a real risk that many disabled people will be left with no support at all. This will make it harder, not easier, for disabled people who want to work to get into suitable employment.
It is undoubtedly better not to impose these changes on existing claimants. But there will still be people who are disabled, or who become disabled, after the reforms come into place. They will find it no easier to cope with the poverty and hardship that these cuts will impose on their lives than people who are in receipt of PIP today.
In its Employment Rights Bill, the government is proposing positive steps to try and improve employment rights and reduce discrimination against disabled people in the workplace, which we welcome. It would make sense to see how these changes improve work for disabled people before taking money off them and requiring them to enter into jobs that are either unfit for them, or non-existent.
Say no to the welfare reforms
Today was the deadline on the government’s ‘Pathways to Work’ consultation. GMLC provided a comprehensive response to their questions, which you can read here.
GMLC welcomes Andy Burnham’s opposition to the proposed welfare reforms, and supports the many GM MPs who have also voiced their opposition.
The government is asking MPs to vote for renewed austerity imposed on the people who need support the most. But suffering in the future is still suffering.
The DWP’s own figures suggest the amended proposals will force 150,000 people into poverty.
Austerity is a political choice. We say: stand firm against the disability benefit cuts.
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Image: GMLC staff and volunteers attend the protest against disability benefit cuts on 1/04/25 in Manchester city centre.
