The government's welfare bill has passed the House of Commons, and while we’ve heard reports of "concessions" to protect some of us, for many disabled people, the overwhelming feeling is one of profound disappointment, apprehension, and injustice. These reforms, despite any touted easements, are setting us on a path towards a deeply unequal future.

The Unjust Two-Tier System: A Reality We Cannot Escape

The clearest and most damaging aspect of these reforms is the explicit creation of a two-tier system for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The latest updates confirm that people currently receiving PIP will remain on the existing system, but new claimants will be assessed under a completely new, stricter scoring system.

Imagine this, for a second, and really try to put yourself in our shoes. This isn't some minor bit of paperwork or a little tweak to a government form. It's about what's fundamentally fair, or rather, what isn't. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, those number-crunching folks, put it perfectly: think of two people. They both develop the exact same health problems, the same kind of disability, at roughly the same time. But here's the catch – one person applies for PIP just before November 2026, and the other applies just after. Because of that date, those two people, with identical needs, are going to be assessed under completely different rules. That could mean one gets the support they desperately need, and the other gets next to nothing. Does that sound right to you? It feels like a lottery, where getting crucial help depends purely on a calendar date, not on how much your disability actually impacts your life. It's just not how a fair society should work.

For disabled people, life simply costs more – a reality Scope calls the 'Disability Price Tag'. Their latest report reveals that disabled households need an additional £1,095 every single month just to keep pace with the living standards of non-disabled households. With inflation, this extra burden is predicted to rise to £1,224 monthly by 2029-2030. Despite this, the average Personal Independence Payment (PIP) currently only provides £465 a month, leaving a significant £630 shortfall that's set to grow to £704. This stark reality comes as the government plans to cut billions from the welfare budget, reforms that could leave over 400,000 disabled people without adequate support by 2029-2030, risking their health, independence, and pushing them deeper into poverty.

Beyond PIP: Other Harmful Elements Remain

The problems with this bill extend beyond just PIP eligibility. It maintains the damaging plan to reduce the Universal Credit (UC) health element for new claims to the equivalent of £50 per week from April 2026. This is a direct financial blow that will push many new claimants, already grappling with the inherent extra costs of living with a disability, further into poverty.

The government's narrative often frames the rising numbers of PIP awards, particularly for mental health conditions, as a burgeoning cost that needs "fixing." This approach often stigmatises and blames disabled people for accessing the support they need, rather than acknowledging the societal factors contributing to increased need or the inherent cost of living with long-term conditions. The focus on "sustainability" often feels like a euphemism for cuts, prioritising fiscal savings over human well-being.

Flawed "Support" and the Illusion of Engagement

While the bill talks about a "Right to Try Guarantee" and significant investment in employment support, these promises often feel hollow when contrasted with our lived experiences. The Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) own research reveals that "nearly half (49%) of customers felt they would never be able to work, or return to work, because of their health". For this substantial portion of our community, the priority isn't a job—it's genuine support for independent living.

Furthermore, despite the "Right to Try Guarantee" designed to alleviate the fear of losing benefits when trying to work, the DWP's survey indicates that "50% were worried they would not get their benefits back if they tried working". This deep-seated fear highlights a profound lack of trust in a system that often feels punitive. We seek support that is "personal, with genuine attempts to understand their unique needs and circumstances," and we want to "feel supported rather than coerced, monitored or blamed". The current direction of these reforms, with stricter assessments and financial cuts, does the opposite.

Claims of a "co-produced" PIP review ring hollow when significant policy changes are pushed through alongside or even before the review is complete. Scope and Amnesty International both highlight the government's failure to "properly engage with disabled people" and to publish a human rights impact assessment, underscoring a critical lack of genuine consultation and respect for our rights.

A Call for Genuine Justice and an Equal Future

The passage of this bill, even with its highly publicised "concessions," solidifies a system that will create an unfair two-tier approach to disability benefits. It risks denying vital support to hundreds of thousands of disabled people who desperately need it, leading to "devastating effects" on our health, independence, and ability to participate fully in society.

This is not the reform we need or deserve. We echo the calls from Scope, IFS, and Amnesty International: we need genuine engagement, reforms that reduce poverty rather than deepen it, and a welfare system that truly provides security for those who cannot work and the right support for those who can. It's time to stop viewing disabled people as a cost to be cut, and instead, as valuable members of society deserving of dignity and fundamental human rights.

References

• Gov.uk Statement: Information provided by the user titled "Terms of reference for the first comprehensive review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment in a decade to be published today," detailing initial government plans for welfare reform.

• News Article on Welfare Bill Concessions: PIP concessions explained as update could still hit 430,000 claimants - Liverpool Echo

• Timms Review of the PIP Assessment.pdf.

• work-aspirations-and-support-needs-of-health-and-disability-customers.pdf

• CBP-10296.pdf: An uploaded PDF document titled "Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill 2024-25" from the House of Commons Library, providing analysis of the bill.