Act now to stop cuts to disability benefits
What is happening?
Benefits are a lifeline for millions of disabled people in the UK. They provide vital financial security for those unable to work or facing significant barriers to employment, while helping to cover the extra costs of essentials such as care and energy. But this support is under threat.
The Government has already cut the Universal Credit health element – paid to people who are unable to work – by nearly half for new claimants, and is now considering making young people wait until age 22 before they can claim it.
These changes will not address the real barriers to employment; they will only push more people into poverty and hardship.
At the same time, cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which helps cover the extra costs of disability, have not been ruled out and could return following a review later this year.
What Sense is calling for
Sense is calling on the Government to protect disability benefits and ensure disabled people are not pushed further into hardship.
We are calling on ministers to:
- Stop the removal of the health element of Universal Credit for people under 22.
- Rule out any further reductions in support for those assessed as not being able to work.
- Rule out making it harder to access Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Act now before it’s too late. Don’t allow these harmful changes to happen.
Disabled people should not be forced into poverty because of benefit cuts. Join us in saying no to these cuts, and call on the Government to protect the disability benefits millions rely on.
Stop making the cuts because it’s having, and it will have a huge effect on people with disabilities.
The more people that speak up, that’s how change will happen because if you don’t say anything, nothing will.
Mo, Sense campaigner
Life on welfare: a family’s reality
Sandra cares for her 14-year-old son Ayman, who has complex needs, while also living with a long-term health condition of her own. She shares the daily challenges her family faces and speaks about the impact of rising costs and welfare cuts.
Video description of Sandra's video
A close-up of Sandra sitting on a sofa in her living room, speaking directly to the camera. Occasional clips show her son Ayman, a 14-year-old boy, standing in a garden and looking up at the sky.
Sandra: A lot of people who have to rely on welfare definitely don’t want to. They unfortunately have to because it’s the hand they’re being dealt with.
Sandra: My name is Sandra. I’ve got two children, one is 16 and the other one is 14. Besides his autism, Ayman has sensory processing disorder, and I’ve got MS.
Sandra: Ayman doesn’t use the toilet, so I buy him pull-ups. Electric bills, because you can see he’s always mucky, so he goes through two, three changes of clothes every day.
Sandra: And then you have the specifics, like in his case, the joggers, the tops that he wears, it has to be all cotton, you know, no stitching or stuff on it that might rub.
Sandra: Everything adds up, and all these things, because they’re so specific, they cost a lot more money.
Sandra: They keep going on about putting people back in work and I just think it’s really unfair.
Sandra: If I go specific on Ayman, for example, he doesn’t even know what a job is. How can he go and get one? He’s never going to be able to hold down a job.
Sandra: When I’m gone, he’s going to rely on his government. But with them trying to cut, cut, cut, what are they going to do, lock him away?
Sandra: We’re not statistics. We’re not numbers or a percentage on your budget. It’s people and it’s their lives.
The Sense logo appears.
Explore the situation so far
Disability benefits cuts: “We’re not statistics. We’re people. And these are our lives.”
What’s happening with welfare reform right now?
Welfare reform plans leave disabled people living in fear, research reveals
Benefits and money
Who are we?
Sense is here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life.
Together, we can achieve long-term change. Through our campaign work we step up in the face of adversity and unite with the 1.6 million disabled people with complex needs in the UK.
To find out more, contact our policy, public affairs and research team: [email protected]