Proposed changes to disability benefits – what we know so far

The government’s proposed changes to disability benefits, including restricting eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and scrapping the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), are deeply concerning.

The proposed cuts within the proposal risk pushing many disabled people into poverty at a time when the cost of living is already high and social care budgets are stretched. PIP is not a work incentive – it helps cover the unavoidable costs of living with a disability. The charity believes reducing this support will not create job opportunities but will make life harder for those who rely on it.

We are deeply concerned that the government have specifically excluded the changes to the PIP and WCA assessments from the consultation. These are the elements of the Green Paper that will cause hundreds of thousands of Disabled people to lose financial support.

As an alternative we urge the government to invest in inclusive employment support and ensure financial protection for those unable to work.

Anything proposing such significant changes to benefits and systems should have disabled voices at the core and should be co-produced with people who have lived experience of disability.

There are now accessible formats available for the consultation. These include: Easy read, British Sign Language, large print, audio, and Braille.

These are available on the GOV.UK Pathways to Work page: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper – GOV.UK

Further Information

The government’s consultation on these proposed reforms is now live. Called ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’, it sets out the changes to the benefits system. Disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, and disability organisations now have a chance to respond.

Find out more and take part through the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-benefits-and-support-to-get-britain-working-green-paper

As a disabled people’s user led organisation, Living Options Devon will be submitting an organisational response. We believe that these changes could make it much harder for disabled people to access financial support, especially during a time of rising living costs and strained social care budgets. We know these proposals are causing significant concern for disabled people.

The consultation opened on 18 March 2025 and will close on 30 June 2025.

You can find the full consultation documents here:

Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper – GOV.UK

Disability Rights UK have summarised what the changes may mean for disabled people and you can find further support, information and advice at Scope and Citizen’s Advice.

Taking The PIP campaign: https://takingthepip.co.uk/. A campaign led by deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent (DDN) public figures coming together to speak out against the UK government’s proposal to cut disability benefits.