DWP responds to calls to scrap proposed changes to health and disability benefits
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has rejected proposals in an online petition calling on the UK Government to scrap proposed welfare changes for people on health and disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). More than 16,400 people have signed in support of the petition, posted by disability activist Abigail Broomfield who argues that instead of reducing benefits, the DWP should be providing 'support, not hardship and deprivation, for those who cannot work.' However, the DWP response highlighted how the 'UK Government must urgently tackle the spiralling welfare bill , restore trust and fairness in the system, and protect disabled people. Social security reforms will therefore continue as planned.' The welfare reform proposals centre on changes to both the eligibility criteria for and the reduced payment rates of benefits and include plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), meaning the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment would determine eligibility for PIP and the health element of Universal Credit. Changes are set to come into effect in November 2026 for new and existing claimants. Responding to the 'Protect disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits' petition, posted on the official UK Government petitions website, DWP 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. 'As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health.' DWP went on to list the changes being made to the system to 'support sick and disabled people - many of whom want to work - into jobs, while protecting those with the most severe conditions who can never work'. Commenting on the DWP's response, Ms Broomfield told the Daily Record: 'They've not addressed how they're going to protect disabled people who can't work and have just repeated points from the Green Paper. 'In fact they've doubled down on how by claiming that getting disabled people into work is going to protect disabled people.' The disability campaigner added: 'A Freedom of Information request revealed that nearly 90 per cent of disabled people or 1.3 million people who only get standard rates or PIP are going to be losing money.' Ms Broomfield will continue her campaign to get the petition to 100,000 signatures of support where it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can read the full petition and DWP response on the Petitions Parliament website here. The 12-week consultation on reforms to health and disability support officially launched on April 7 on GOV.UK with publication of all accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper. The consultation is open until June 30, 2025. The proposed reforms aim to support people into work, protect people who can never work and put the welfare system on a sustainable footing so that it can continue to support those in need now and into the future. DWP said: 'One in three of us faces a long-term health condition, so we all need a system that can support us to stay in work or get back into work.' The measures are the latest step in the UK Government's drive to build a modern welfare system that helps people get jobs rather than creating unnecessary barriers, with ministers' proposed plans set to: DWP said that without changes, it is forecast that the system could cost as much as £70 billion a year by the end of the decade and risk not being there for people when they need it in future. Issues open for consultation include: DWP said: "These are part of the wider reforms that also include reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren't indefinitely written off, targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs, and rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit."
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