Have your say about proposed changes to disability benefits

Inclusion Gloucestershire and Barnwood Trust are making  a response to the Government’s benefits proposals. Below are ways to add your views.

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What’s happening?

The Government want to change the way benefits work. This could mean some disabled people lose some, or all, of their benefits. This won’t happen yet. First, they want disabled people to feedback on their plans.

What are we doing?

Inclusion Gloucestershire and Barnwood Trust think the proposals will make things harder for disabled people if they happen. We also think the feedback questions the Government is asking are long.

We have co-created 5 questions with a group of disabled people. Ways to answer these questions are below.

 

There is a plan to change the conditions someone must meet to receive PIP.  People will now have to score at least 4 points on one area to get the daily living part and a total of at least 8 points. This would mean that it would not be enough for a person to score a small number (less than 4) of points on a few areas to make up a total of 8 points and so some people will no longer receive PIP.

1. If you (or someone you know) stopped receiving PIP, what would you need to make you feel supported?

 

There is a plan to change the age at which people can apply for the health element of Universal Credit (UC) and PIP from 18 to 22. This would mean only people aged 22 or older would get PIP or the health element of Universal Credit.

2. If the age for claiming PIP and the health element of Universal Credit is changed to 22 years old, what might the impact be for you (or someone you know)?

 

There is a plan to require people claiming the health element of Universal Credit to have Work Capability re-Assessments (WCA) more often. A Work Capability Assessment involves checking whether their disability makes it harder for them to work, and by how much.

3. If you (or someone you know) had to do more Work Capability re-Assessments (WCA), what might the personal impact be?

 

There is a plan to use the benefits system to support people who are not currently working, due to disability, and would like to try to work. Support could mean financial, emotional, social, or physical support.

4. If you (or someone you know) would like to begin working, what would you need to feel supported to?

 

5. Is there anything else you would like to say about the plans to change disability-related benefits?

 

Ways to answer the questions:

Our survey will be open until Friday 30th May the Government consultation is open until 30th June 2025

Check the Inclusion Gloucestershire website in June for an update about the feedback we hear.