19 March
Benefits and Work has put the proposed new PIP test online, so that readers can score themselves anonymously or, if they wish, get the results emailed to them.
A detailed examination of the Pathways to Work Green Paper by the Resolution Foundation. Amongst other things it finds that a single unemployed person claiming Universal Credit who does not get PIP will be around £165 better off in 2029-30. But a single person who would have previously qualified for PIP Standard Daily Living and UC LCWRA, but who fails the 4 point test, will suffer an annual loss of £9,600 per year in 2029-30.
18 March
DWP launches entirely bogus Green Paper consultation
Benefits and Work argues that the DWP has launched an entirely bogus consultation on changes to PIP and UC by refusing to consult on almost everything that matters most to claimants. The move may allow them to bring in changes PIP and UC before opposition has had a chance to build.
Up to 1.2m disabled people will lose thousands in UK welfare overhaul, experts warn
The Guardian reports that the Resolution Foundation estimates that between 800,000 and 1.2 million people will lose support of between £4,200 and £6,300 a year by 2029-30 due to PIP cuts.
17 March
Benefit cuts will push more people into poverty, warns Citizens Advice boss
The Chief Executive of Citizens Advice has spoken out against proposed cuts to benefits, warning they will push more people into poverty and make it harder for them to move into work.
13 March 2025
DWP refuses to apologise after using ‘deeply irresponsible’ figure to exaggerate benefit claimant rise
The Disability News Service reports has accused the DWP of massively exaggerating the rise in people claiming out-of-work disability benefits, and then trying to cover-up its actions.
MPs tell No 10: frontbenchers could quit over disability benefits plan
The Guardian reports that No 10 has been told it could face frontbench resignations if it follows through with plans to freeze PIP.
Government is concealing the true scale of benefit cuts for ill and disabled people
New Economics Foundation argues that the government is hiding between £1.5 billion and £3.0 billion in cuts, because they are not counting the cash that is being transferred from disabled UC claimants to non-disabled claimants.
12 March 2025
Labour MPs called in to No 10 for talks on benefits cuts amid growing rebellion
ITV news reveals that all Labour MPs have been called in to Downing Street for talks about the major benefits cuts expected to be announced next week , as fears of a rebellion grow.
The role of changing health in rising health-related benefit claims
The Institute for Fiscal Studies argues that there is compelling evidence that mental health has worsened since the pandemic and that this is playing a role in the rising number of people claiming health-related benefits. On physical health, the evidence is less clear but deteriorating health cannot be ruled out as a contributing factor to the rise in claims.