A report by money saving expert Martin Lewis’ charity warns that Labour’s PIP reforms will have a “catastrophic impact” on people’s finances and mental health, and will drive people out of the workplace.

The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute carried out in-depth interviews with 227 with people with a mental health condition who currently receive PIP.  The research shows that:

  • A significant number of people with mental health problems expect to lose PIP under the new reforms — and would face a terrifying income shock as a result. 24% of people surveyed say that they will not be eligible for PIP under the new reforms, with another 39% not sure if they’ll be affected. Around a third of the group who expect to lose out receive the ‘enhanced’ rate of PIP due to having high support needs, and face an annual income drop of over £5,750 if they lose this benefit. The rest of this group, who receive the ‘standard’ rate of PIP, will face a still significant income cut of over £3,850 per year.
  • Losing PIP would force many people with mental health problems to cut or stop spending on critical support they need to support their wellbeing. 82% of respondents who use PIP to pay for counselling, therapy, personal care or support needs — and who are set to lose this benefit — say they will significantly reduce or stop spending on this altogether if they lose PIP. A research participant said: “I feel incredibly distressed at the prospect of losing additional money that goes towards therapy. The amount I get is not covering all the additional costs that come with mental health difficulties as it is.”
  • Losing PIP would also have a huge impact on people’s ability to keep up with day-to-day bills. 85% of survey respondents who use PIP to pay for groceries say they will need to significantly cut or stop spending on this, as do 76% who use PIP to pay for essential household bills.
  • The cumulative impact of these changes would be devastating for people’s mental health. A staggering 97% of respondents say the PIP changes would have a “significant negative impact” on their mental health. Some respondents reported that the prospect of losing PIP has resulted in them having panic attacks or feeling suicidal.
  • A significant number of people also say that these reforms would force them out of work, or to reduce their hours. Around one in five survey respondents who currently receive PIP are in employment. But 63% of that group say they would need to reduce or give up work if they lost their PIP entitlement. For some, this is due to the impact it would have on their mental health, while others said they would not be able to afford the transport costs of going to work. Another respondent said: “PIP pays for the private therapy… which keeps my mental health at a functioning level most of the time. Without these I doubt I could even manage the permitted work hours (14 hours per week) that I do.”

This report and the Citizens Advice report “Pathways to Poverty” are both compiled by highly respected, non-political organisations that cannot be disregarded as “just another left-wing think tank”.  It's definitely one that's worth sharing with your MP.

You can download “Lead shoes instead of a life ring” here.

Latest news on PIP/UC changes

What’s changing, when

What you can do

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago

    There are many highly skilled disabled ppl in work . To say the changes are to “ get disabled ppl back into work and give ppl back their dignity” is totally false . 
    Not only will we lose hard working disabled people forced out by these cuts we also stand to lose their expertise and skills . I supported many disabled people working in emergency services who we would lose without this benefit . 
    It’s really important to recognise the economic contribution disabled people already make in the work place and by removing pip it is  actually widening the disability pay gap ! I contacted my MP who replied by towing the party line above . Getting through to their offices to ask them to listen is not as easy as it sounds. I find these cuts totally wrong and am Disgusted that once again vulnerable people who are doing their best are being slapped down back into poverty. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @Judith Alexander You should message him or her again saying that voting for these cuts will be an electoral death sentence for them as MP's and the wider Labour Party. Maybe appealing to their sense of entitlement in wanting to protect their cosy careers might work better.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago
    What is the likelihood that the Lords will send this back?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
     the government are in for a rough time don't think the cuts will pass the media staying quiet still  to don't believe everything they say anyway but there is still hope if there wasn't then nobody would be doing things to stop it  .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    I’ve got a question for the work & benefits forum admin

    The guardian suggested ministers wanted to complete all commons stages of the disability green paper legislation before summer recess on 22nd July 

    Looking at a normal schedule for a legislation getting from 1st reading to 3rd reading in commons would take a minimum of 4 weeks.

    If normal process is being followed then Kendall only has 2 weeks and 1 day to reveal and publish her green paper Legislation to have any chance to complete all commons stages before recess

    There are only 2 ‘wild card’ alternatives that could happen:

    - the legislation gets delayed till after the summer (this would show ministers aren’t confident of winning 2nd reading vote however 6 weeks more of disabled community in high alert fear limbo further showing this govs lack of human respect for disabled community)

    - the gov fast tracks the bill once legislation is dropped. As far as I understand it this can only happen in very specific circumstances which I’m not sure of (I read somewhere that ministers could fast track the green paper legislation bill if it’s made into a financial bill (from the treasury) however doing that would blow up Kendall &co argument that this bill is about helping disabled into work, not saving money at all costs - but I don’t know how correct that is?)


    Does anyone else have further knowledge on any of these scenarios?


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @D We may know more after Wednesday. My gut instinct is that we will be waiting until the new session of Parliament in September/October before legislation is tabled.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    yes the i paper headlines is nothing new. Still trying to work out what these other benefits are we would be entitled to if we lost PIP .Oh yes i remember now there are none! the gaslighting and nonsense this government come out with is absolutely shocking. and i thought sunak and stride were bad!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @denny reece mr crees Well,all I can say is that this last 13 months or so has been totally disastrous for my mental health and my marriage,I started worrying with sunaks statement and never stopped, then labour made it worse threatening my cbesa aswell,my husband has had to dramatically cut back his work hours because of my health and now his own,he claims nothing snd doesn't feel there's any point even trying,I stand to be left living on £350 a month occupational pension and his wages of £400 a month after my pip esa and carers allowance are removed 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @denny reece mr crees You may want to see the latest post from Benefits and Work to email your councillors in relation the proposed cuts. I think, as has been mentioned before, that the focus for those who will not get the 4 pts in the new PIP assessments will be to apply for local authority help. However, many councils are on the verge of bankruptcy and effectively this is the Tories policy of vouchers/receipts by the back door. At least Sunak was transparent in what he wanted.....
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    I came across an interesting article today titled 'Are Ministers Being Paid to Ignore the Public' . Not in the sense of bribery but to do with the ethos behind the Labour party and the role of the Fabian Society of which Kier Starmer (and the majority of his cabinet) are members. It is an interesting read.
    https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/are-ministers-being-paid-to-ignore-the-public/
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 21 days ago
      @Helen Galloway Yes,
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @TAL There can’t be any doubt in my mind that the influence of the rich and powerful influence the governments all over the world. Or the world wouldn’t be in such. Mess for poorer people and so good for billionaires. However soon there’s going to be nothing left for the poor middle class . Then people might act 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    Another new article.  This time in the Independent.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    PIp is on the front of i tonight, but nothing new.  They're still talking about a longer period before losing benefits.  We knew they were looking at that two or three weeks ago.  No idea why that is front page news now.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    A new article in the i newspaper over the last couple of hours.  It's behind a paywall, so I'll copy and paste the key bits.  This is NOT the unedited article, though:

    Ministers are exploring ways to soften the blow of billions of pounds of cuts to benefits amid a major Labour revolt, The i Paper understands.

    But while ministers are holding talks with concerned MPs, they remain minded to push ahead with the policy as it is currently planned, confident that they can win the argument and win over doubters.

    Even if the Government did try and soften the welfare crackdown, The i Paper has been told that many MPs will still rebel as they want the entire plan scrapped.

    Rebels have privately warned that [changes to WFA and two-child cap] will not be enough to get them to change their minds and back the welfare cuts, which they fear could be a political mistake on the scale of the scrapping of the universal winter fuel allowance.

    “Over 150 colleagues are refusing to back down on this issue and have signalled this to the Government and Chief Whip,” one MP said.

    Rebel Labour MP Rachael Maskell said: “Government must end the speculation and end their plans to cruelly make disabled people suffer more than they already do.  It must recognise that it got these cuts completely wrong, ditch them and move forward in ensuring we have a social security system which properly and adequately supports all in need while the health sector presses ahead to better manage those in ill health.”

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @Anon v Email them again and ask for a non standard one.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @Gingin I emailed my Mp and got a bog standard reply !
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @Gingin
      I wouldn't say I'm an optimist, quite the opposite. But it's impossible to deny that the government is in a much shakier position now than it was a couple of months ago. Back then defeat looked impossible. Now they really could lose the vote. 

      As for Hunt, I'm not surprised to hear that from him but the Tories said recently they would be voting against the cuts. Not because they're utterly immoral and economically stupid of course, but because they don't go far enough and are badly thought through (well they're half right). However much they would normally be inclined to vote for benefit cuts, this vote - if it happens - will be a chance for them to help to inflict a major defeat on the government, and they aren't going to get many of those against a government with a landslide majority. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @tintack  Arg, got cut off. I was trying to say that I hope you’re right tintack. You come across in some of your posts as an optimist- I’ll have some of that please! My heart sank a little to see someone else post that Jeremy Hunt told Laura keunsberg he hoped this legislation would pass. I hope he’s not speaking for the rest of the Tories.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @tintack

      I’m tired, as I’m sure we all are. But I can summon up the energy to email my local councillors as advised by B&W today. Now’s not the time to give up.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    I know it sounds awful to wish the time away, but I will be very glad when we know what actually IS going to happen.  This uncertainty is driving me nuts.  I feel guilty every time I spend money on something.  And then are changes I want to make around the house.  Do I not spend the money in case I need it in two years time, or do I spend it now while I'm able?  We'll all go stark raving mad by the time this is sorted!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 21 days ago
      @D I don't think there is any practical way for them to "sneak out" the bill - the rebellion has grown too much for that to be a viable option, so it will attract plenty of attention whatever they try. There is clearly already a lot of bad feeling on the backbenches over the cuts - if they tried anything underhand that would inflame it even further. Trying to fast track it is definitely not something that would be allowed to fly under the radar. There will inevitably be many Labour MPs who, if nothing else, will fear for their seats if the cuts go through. It would not be in their interest to just roll over and let the government get away with something like that.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 21 days ago
      @tintack I didn’t think impact assessments would be available till November (if the case gov could delay legislation till sept-oct) but you could be right and if so you make an interesting point

      There is also the fast track route on the table which would be very dodgy if gov went to that extreme route to quickly sneak through the bill.

      I imagine the bill will be sneaked out a few days after the spending review (or any other treasury ‘giveaway’)

      The fact remains though - if legislation is being carried out via normal procedure then it needs to be published within next fortnight to have any chance of a 3rd reading before summer recess

      Either way any future movement on this will be hugely telling
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 21 days ago
      @D
      "I’m starting to wonder if Labour are now planning to delay any legislation vote till after summer recess to see if the continued limbo (and media attacks that will most likely be ordered to smear disabled further over 6 week summer) breaks the disabled community person by person?"

      They've tried media attacks already though and it hasn't worked, in fact the Labour rebellion has only increased. Others have posted links on here to two articles on GB News which actually give an accurate picture of what will happen if the cuts go through. We really have gone through the looking glass when GBeebies are more accurate than a Labour government.

      They could delay the vote until the autumn, but the problem with that is that impact assessments should be available for MPs to read by then. The government knows full well that they will make very grim reading, so delaying the vote only increases the chance of losing it. That's why they want MPs to vote now, before they've seen those assessments. That's why any decision to proceed with the vote in June doesn't necessarily mean they think they're likely to win: they could well still lose a June vote, it's just that they will think they're even more likely to lose if the vote is held in the autumn. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @MATT I cant bear to see her on TV I quickly switch channels 
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      · 22 days ago
      @SLB It’s not awful 

      The ongoing limbo is a total head f**k and more evidence that disabled have little control over their own fates.

      Very hard to forward plan (whether in how to continue fighting for u turns or concessions or coming up with strategies of how to keep head above water) if you can’t yet see the full arsenal of the other side or not have all the data to start running figures.

      I’m starting to wonder if Labour are now planning to delay any legislation vote till after summer recess to see if the continued limbo (and media attacks that will most likely be ordered to smear disabled further over 6 week summer) breaks the disabled community person by person?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 days ago
    Labour will lose seats in Wales over this.

    Disability benefit cuts will affect Wales disproportionately, campaigners say. 

    The proposals, which are still at the consultation stage, would further compound poverty and exclusion for disabled people in Wales, according to the chief executive of Disability Wales, Rhian Davies.

    “It’s not just individuals who will be out of pocket, entire communities will be affected. Our survey of members showed that people are angry and terrified and some reported suicidal thoughts, which is very concerning,” she said.

    “We must address the systemic failures that keep disabled people out of work and public life before we start looking at reforming the benefits system.”

    About 900,000 people, or 27% of Wales’ population, live with a disability, according to Public Health Network Cymru – higher than the UK average of 22% – and 11% of working-age people, compared with 7% in England.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 days ago
    Have I woken up in some weird paradox today where everything is reversed?


    The claims made about blue labour in this article are the polar opposite to the reality???
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @Mick Blue Labour: Patriotic, anti asylum seekers, anti immigration, anti DEI, socially Conservative. Looks like Labour for the Reform voters. Their claim to popular economic policies made me smirk as they think revaluation of Council Tax Bands to shift tax off poorer regions on to better off regions would be popular rather than certain electoral death. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Mick
      If they're as left wing as they claim I look forward to them voting against the disability cuts. 

      It seems to have escaped their notice that people who are genuinely on the left don't try to imitate hard right demagogues like Farage. Still, this is who the McSweeney faction are, so it's no surprise.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 days ago
    Jeremy Hunt on Kuennsberg this morning said he hopes the benefit cuts go through as it is the only way of balancing the books. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @Slb Sorry Lord Hunt benefit cuts are not the only way to balance the books, perhaps looking at the amount of waste your party made(for its own gain)  and this party with the amount it is spending again on the wrong things, net zero, waste, spending on people who have contributed nothing, fouling up our education system, ripping off farmers, ripping off the fishing industry, treating pensioners like lowlife, but never mind he is a lord now god knows why, must be for a reward being useless.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @Slb In other words he hopes disabled people who'll lose their benefits are left to rot as it would save the state spending money on them. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Slb It’s a political choice. It isn’t the only way to balance the books. I wonder what Hunts agenda is?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Slb True
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Slb The only way of balancing the books other than taxing the wealthiest through measures like a land value tax. But of course we can't have anything that might require Hunt and Tory donors to pay a bit more - it's clearly much fairer to push sick and disabled people into destitution instead. Won't someone think of the poor downtrodden millionaires? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 days ago
    I can't post a link to the actual article because it was just posted as a screenshot over on the scope forum but even football fans are showing their dislike of Starmer:

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    · 23 days ago
    Just a question, what will happen to the green paper if it doesn't get voted through parliament? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @Slb Wish we could shred Starmer and co as well. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Ann At that point, we all club together and buy the dwp a shredder!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Cecelia Thanks Cecelia, fingers crossed for a no vote sometime this month. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Ann The government will pull the vote if it doesn't look like it will pass,then go back too the drawing board.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 days ago
    This is the headline on The Telegraph:

    The cheats mocking the welfare system.

    The benefits cheats making a £6.5 billion mockery of the welfare system.


    Correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is that benefit cuts proposed in Green paper would bring savings in the tune of £6.5 billion. So according to this article everyone who would be affected by these cuts/changes is a benefit fraud who mocks the welfare system. 

    There’s also mentioning of Motability scheme:

    “In March, for example, it was reported that the Motability scheme, which provides taxpayer-funded cars to those claiming PIP benefits, had signed up 815,000 people last year, an increase of more than 170,000 in a year. Claimants can apply for a new model every three years. The Motability fleet is the biggest in Europe, valued at more than £14 billion. On social media, there are accounts dedicated to showing their followers how they can secure a car for themselves, too.”

    It makes me angry because articles like this one spread misinformation and paints all disabled people with the same brush. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @Moonstone The Telegraph saved from going out of publication by Starmer recently changing media ownership regulations so they could get their new foreign investors/owners. Starmer it seems is a good friend to all right wing media. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Moonstone The Torygraph looking after their paymasters the billionaires and their owners the Barclay Brothers themselves billionaires. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 23 days ago
      @Moonstone That link has disappeared.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 days ago
      @A That petition was put up by a Charlie Anderson PIP consultant who charges people a lot to help them fill in a PIP form. And has been featured in media articles. Call me cynical but I see it as exercise in publicity for their business.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 days ago
    Just had to share this from BBC1's Have I Got News For You:

    Apparently Madame Tussauds are not making a waxwork of Keir Starmer because they're

    "not sure he'll be relevant in five years' time"

    15:38 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002d3df


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