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It’s almost like people are not stupid and if

Dear ...................

I do not agree with the Government making savings by cutting welfare support, and I share the serious concerns of campaigners regarding Government plans to reform disability benefits.  

For this reason, in a debate on Parliament on 4th November 2024, I said: 

"The commitment to delivering the previously planned savings is more than alarming. The truth is that the way disabled people have been treated by the Department for Work and Pensions since 2010 will go down in history as a terrible and inexcusable crime. There is extensive evidence about the serious harm caused to people subjected to dehumanising assessments and sanctions, including reports of deaths directly related to the social security regime. We need a long-term overhaul of the social security system. It is not fit for purpose. I urge the Government to really look at that in detail going forward.” 

I understand that under one option reportedly being considered, the Universal Credit (UC) “limited capability for work or work-related activity” category would be abolished, which would require often severely disabled or ill people to make preparations for work. That could see claimants lose about £5,000 a year.

It has also been widely reported that Ministers intend to scrap the work capability assessment used to approve incapacity benefits and align the system more closely with assessments for personal independence payments (PIP), separate disability benefits that are paid whether or not someone can work.

In January and April 2024, in support of PIP, I signed numerous Parliamentary motions (#EDM 309; #EDM 678) raising concerns about delays in PIP processing times and calling on the Government to review PIP with the aim of reducing these, while making the system easier and less stressful for claimants.
(https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/61799).
(https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/62177).

I am aware that in January 2025, a high court judge found that an official consultation regarding changes to the WCA was ruled unlawful, following a legal challenge by disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) campaigner Ellen Clifford. The high court said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had presented UK-wide incapacity benefit assessment reforms as a way to support disabled people into work without making clear the “primary rationale” of the proposals was cost savings.

The consultation, which was carried out by the previous Government in Autumn 2023, failed to mention that 424,000 disabled people would see their benefits cut, many losing £416 a month, the judge found.

I am conscious that documents released to the court also revealed that internal DWP estimates suggested the reforms to the WCA would push 100,000 highly vulnerable disabled people into absolute poverty.

I do not agree with making welfare savings by cutting welfare support.

I am only too aware that 14 years of austerity has had a brutal impact on the lives of many disabled people. Research by the Trussell Trust suggests that most food bank users now live in households where somebody is disabled.

I would have liked the new Government to use the Autumn Budget 2024 to ensure that our social security system works for everyone when they need it.

It has therefore been clear to me that for many years that the current social security system is not fit for purpose and in many cases actively damaging.

I note the high proportion of Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) decisions that are overturned at tribunal and am all too conscious that each of the many thousands of incorrect decisions about what support a disabled person should be getting causes real suffering to that person and to their family and friends. There is extensive evidence about the serious harm caused to people subjected to dehumanising assessments and sanctions – and that there are reports of deaths directly related to the social security regime. I support the growing calls for a full transparent independent inquiry into these deaths and for all the information to be released to the public accordingly.

That is why, in December 2024 and February 2025, I tabled questions asking about whether a public enquiry would be conducted into the deaths and serious harms arising out of the social security system.
(https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-16/20272)
(https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-02-26/33991)

I have also tabled multiple written questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, enquiring into the assessment process for PIP and mandatory reconsideration request data. You can find their answers here.
(https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-03-31/151298)
(https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-03-31/151297)
(https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-03-31/151296).

I have tabled numerous questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, enquiring into the impact social security reforms have had on vulnerable communities (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-16/20273).

I strongly believe that it should be the new Government’s priority to address these wrongs.

It is my view that protecting access to benefits ensures that society maintains a basic standard of living for everyone.

You can see another one my spoken contributions in Parliament, from February 2022, in support of the need for a social security system that provides a safety net for people with disabilities.
(https://x.com/ApsanaBegumMP/status/1900889599058047474)

I can confirm that a member of my staff was able to attend the Scope Parliamentary event on 2nd April 2025 where they were able to gather information about the financial impacts of disability cuts and changes, and listen to the stories of disabled people affected.

I pay tribute to disabled activists – such as of Z2K, Black Triangle, WOW campaign, disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), and others – who have spent years campaigning for disabled people’s rights.

Thank you again for raising this important issue with me.

Yours sincerely, 

...............

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When we are bombarded with constant changes beyond our control. It's a witch hunt,and sadly WE are the accused.

These cuts will kill and cause unimaginable suffering. Labour “for the many, not the few” seem to have forgotten their own catchphrase. 

On top of that, they won’t get more people into work and they won’t save money - just raise bills for the NHS etc. 

I suppose I was naive to believe that Labour would actually help us - 10 years of suffering and Labour come along, say nothing to ease fears for the better part of a year - then announce cuts that are openly discriminatory - affecting the human rights of so many, it’s difficult not to feel worthless right now. But I’ll fight these to my last breath, and that may just be what it costs - I can’t see how I’ll survive this. 

(I have chronic pain that could kill me, and I’m on higher daily and standard mobility - I score no more than 2 points on any task for daily)

The kind of people expressing hatred online are the same types who don't listen to, or believe in facts. They are unreasonable and irrational tur*s.

Don't let their comments get you down folks. The public is with us!