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What you can do

Making your voice heard is definitely not a waste of time. 

It appears that the government were panicked into dropping a planned freeze to PIP before it was even announced, because of fears of a backbench revolt. So there’s clearly hope they can be persuaded to drop other measures.

Please use the comments section below to share ideas for speaking out, tell us what action you’ve taken or pass on responses from MPs, Lords or anyone else.  But please do stay on-topic.

Take part in the consultation

Contact your MP

Contact your councillors

Contact a member of the House of Lords

Contact an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)

Contact local media

Contact organisations you have a connection with

Offer to be a case study

Support a campaign

Sign a petition

Take part in a protest

 

 

Take part in the consultation

Normally we would be urging people to take part in a consultation on an issue like this.

But the DWP consultation in this case is so unfair that we have very mixed feelings.  It fails to ask questions about most of the issues that people would want to give an opinion on, such as:

  • Changes to PIP scoring
  • Abolishing the WCA
  • Freezing the UC health element
  • Having a single assessment for both PIP and the UC health element

You can read more about why we are so unhappy with the consultation here.

But we also know that the DWP may argue that lack of response means that most people do not object to the changes.  There is also the chance to give your opinion on things such as what support should be available to people who have their PIP cut if the changes happen.  

So, if you consider that taking part in the consultation is the lesser of two evils, you can do so here.   The closing date is 30 June 2025.

Contact your MP

Whatever party your MP is a member of, it is worth contacting them. 

Some parties will be against the cuts and your support for their position will encourage them.

Even some Conservative MPs may decide not to support the Green Paper, or may choose to only support parts of it,  if only to cause problems for the Labour leadership.

And Labour MPs will need a lot of encouragement to have the courage to rebel.

You can email your MP via Write To Them  Make sure you include your name and address so that they know you are one of their constituents.

Whatever party your MP is a member of, it is worth contacting them. 

You can email your MP via Write To Them  Make sure you include your name and address so that they know you are one of their constituents.

Even better, write them a letter or arrange to talk to them in-person at a constituency surgery.

Poor responses from MPs
Many people have told us that they’ve contacted their MP, especially a Labour one, and either received no reply or just a standard response setting out the party line, which doesn’t address their concerns at all.  What can you do if you are in that position?

Your details
The first thing is to make sure you include your name and address on all correspondence with your MP.  If you don’t, it can be ignored on the grounds that you may not be that MP’s constituent.

Keep it short
It might be better to send several emails spread over a period of days or weeks rather than one very long one which your MP, or their staff, never get to the end of.

Think of one or two important points you want to make and stick to those in your email or letter.

Try different contact methods
If you don’t get a proper response, or any response, consider phoning your MP’s constituency office and trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting or a telephone conversation, where you can put your views across clearly.

Make your MP’s lack of engagement public
The Green Paper changes are a matter of huge importance to thousands of every MP’s constituents and how your MP votes could affect their lives considerably. So, if your MP won’t engage with you on this subject, consider publicising that fact on social media and in the letters pages of your local papers.  Most MPs like to be thought of as good constituency MPs, so this may encourage them to respond.

Keep writing
Very few Labour MPs in particular, are going to be willing to openly criticize their leadership in writing to a constituent.  But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t getting worried or that they aren’t saying something very different to their colleagues.  You have no way of knowing what effect your communications are having, so keep them up because they may be making a difference.

Above all – don’t be discouraged
You have nothing to lose by contacting your MP.  It may make a difference.  Doing nothing definitely won’t. But even if your efforts don’t achieve tangible results, you will know that you did everything you reasonably could to help yourself and others. Which is more than any MP who votes for these cuts can ever say.

Contact a Lord

You don’t have your own member of the House of Lords, in the way you have an MP.  But the House of Lords can do a great deal to challenge, delay and sometimes even change legislation.

If you visit the Lords section of Write To Them there is an option to “Find a Lord interested in my topic”. 

You can put in key words like “PIP”, “social security”, “depression”  – it’s best if you enclose them in quote marks – and you’ll be given a list of the Lords who have spoken about your chosen subject the most. It will also tell you which party, if any, they belong to.  It’s worth checking what they have said on the subject as some may be strongly anti-claimant.

Alternatively, you can select a Lord who has a connection with where you live or work.   

At the top of their results page there will be a link saying “I want to write to. . .” which will allow you to email them.

As with MPs above, please aim to be polite and reasonably brief.

Contact your councillors

Local councillors don’t have a say in national policy making, but they are likely to have a close connection with their local party machine and can feed back rising concern about these measures.  If the Green Paper cuts to benefits go through, they are likely to place an increased strain on local services .  The Disability Policy thinktank forecast that the cuts will lead to £1.2bn in extra costs for the NHS and local care services provided by councils, so councillors should be concerned. 

You can find your local councillors here

You can also find out if your councillors are up for re-election on 1 May.  If you have a Labour councillor you could explain to them how the Green Paper will affect your voting intentions.

Contact an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)

As well as contacting your own MP about the proposed benefits cuts, you may be able to get your message to other MPs of all parties, if there is  an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) which covers your condition.

APPGs consist of members of both Houses of Parliament, from all parties, who share an interest in a particular topic.  A number of these groups relate to different health conditions.

We've put together more information and a list of the most relevant APPGs here.

Meanwhile the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Poverty and Inequality has made a call for evidence to examine the disproportionate impact of poverty a call for evidence to examine the disproportionate impact of poverty and inequality on disabled people. This short inquiry will inform discussions around the upcoming green paper on disability benefit reform.  Closing date Monday 14 April

Contact local media

Local newspaper are often fairly desperate for content, including reader’s letters.  You can ask for your name and address to be withheld to maintain your privacy.  Write about why you are concerned about the cuts and encourage other readers to complete the consultation or contact their MP.

Some claimants are going further and getting stories in the media about their fears, like these:

'They're taking PIP benefits from me - but I'm in too much pain to work'

Benefit changes could be 'life or death' - claimant

Greenwich woman Parkinson’s: 'PIP vital for daily living'

The Local Media Works website allows you to find the contact details for local papers in your area.

If you have a local BBC Radio station, you can find their contact details here.

Contact organisations you have a connection with

If you have a connection with a major charity, please contact them if you think they could be doing more to publicise the Green Paper changes and encouraging their members/visitors to take action. 

Alternatively, if they are doing a great job, let them know that it's appreciated, because there's always an element of worry for a charity when it criticises the government

And you may have a connection with a smaller charity or a local branch that could also be more proactive on this issue, perhaps with some support from you.

Or you may be have contacts with an advice agency, housing association, trades union, housing association , food bank or some other group that could also be encouraged to do their bit.

Offer to be a case study

Disability charities have had very little time to respond to the Green Paper and, for some, finding people who can help with a campaign at such short notice is likely to be a real problem.

Could you volunteer to be a case study?  This could just involve setting out, on conditions of anonymity, how the Green Paper cuts are likely to affect you.  Or you might e willing to take a larger role in getting information out.

Either way, it would be worth contacting organisations that cover your condition and offering to be a case study.

Sign a petition

Signing a petition probably doesn’t achieve much on its own, in most cases.  But if it’s just one of a range of ways you are trying to make your voice heard then it’s worth doing.

There's an open letter started by frontline clinicians, but open to everyone to sign, started on 18 April.

Amnesty International have started a petition calling on the Prime Minister to stop the cuts.

Labour MP Richard Burgon has launched a petition against his own party’s benefits cuts.  (52,815 signatures on 25.04.25)

There's one from 38 Degrees headed No to cruel benefits cuts.  (104,711 signatures on 25.04.25)

On Change.org there is Reform the Recent Changes to Disability Benefits  (50,639 signatures on 01.04.25)

And Scope have a Cutting disability benefits would be catastrophic petition here.  (92,195 signatures on 01.04.25)

Let us know in the comments section about any petitions you have spotted. 

Support a campaign

There may be campaigns being run by different organisations that you can support.  One way to find them is to search #WelfareNotWarfare 

Z2K (Zacchaeus 2000 Trust)

The Z2K campaigning charity are urging people to contact their MP about the Green Paper proposals.  A link on their site allows you to select your MP and send them an email explaining why the cuts are wrong.  As Z2K explain: 

Our disability benefit system urgently needs reform.  

But we need meaningful reform, not rushed cuts that will push many severely disabled people deeper into poverty and away from work. 

Write to your MP today. 

https://z2k.eaction.org.uk/green-paper-write-mp

Multiple Sclerosis Society survey

 The MS Society have a survey about the government’s proposed changes to disability benefits, including to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people living with MS.  The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete. You can access it here.

Carers UK 
Carers UK have created a short survey to enable carers to tell them in detail about the impact the reforms will have on them and those they care for. They will use the results from this in the campaign they are running to oppose the reforms. If you would like to complete the survey, you can do so here 

Scope
Scope have a campaign asking people to contact their MP and request that they meet with Scope to discuss cuts to disability benefits.

Take part in a protest

Let us know in the comments section or drop us an email, if you are organising a protest or aware of one.

Mass lobby against benefits cuts, Westminster 21 May

A mass lobby of parliament organized by Coalition Against Benefit Cuts, Disabled People Against Cuts, Disability Rights UK, WellAdapt Co-Sponsors: Richard Burgon MP and Neil Duncan Jordan MP.

A Mass Lobby is where a group arranges a large number of meetings between constituents and MPs for the same time. This is an opportunity to push MPs to vote against these cuts, to show the strength of support and to take up visible space in Westminster.

More details from DPAC

 

Latest news on PIP/UC changes

What’s changing, when

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    mr P
    · 1 days ago
    HERES THE REPLY FROM MY MP. 
    Dear MR. XXXXXX,

    Thank you for contacting me about the upcoming reforms to the disability benefits system. I completely agree that it is important that any reforms are conducted carefully and ensure that vulnerable people are protected.

    I am sorry to hear about your personal circumstances and I have written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to raise your specific concerns.

    After 14 years of damaging Conservative rhetoric on benefits and cuts, people are understandably fearful when they hear about changes to the benefits system. I understand that the reforms announced by the government will not result in any immediate changes to anyone’s benefits. However, I know that the announcement and the reports leading up to it have caused a great deal of anxiety and distress for many disabled people and their families. I am representing your views to the Government as part of the current consultation process.

    I believe that we need a welfare state that is there for all of us when we need it, now and in the future, that protects those most in need, and that delivers equality and dignity for all. There will always be some people who cannot work, and I am clear that the Government must ensure they are well supported to live with dignity and as much independence as possible.

    I have been working in recent weeks to ensure that the concerns of my constituents about the impacts of these proposals, and particularly the changes to entitlement for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), are heard at the highest levels of the Government, meeting with senior ministers and officials to raise my concerns and those of my constituents.

    As Chair of the Education Select Committee, I am particularly concerned about the potential impacts of these plans on rates of child poverty. I have raised these concerns directly with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and you can see my response to her statement here.

    I will continue to engage with my disabled constituents and voluntary sector organisations representing disabled people as these proposals are considered by Parliament.

    However, it is also true that the welfare system that the government inherited from the Conservatives is failing the very people it was designed to help. Many sick and disabled people want to work, and they deserve the same choices and chances as everyone else to do so. In my time as an MP, I have seen some really great work through supported internships and job coaching to support sick and disabled people to explore opportunities and access employment. Everyone deserves this same support.

    The Government is taking action to tackle some of the underlying causes which stop people from being able to work, investing an additional £26 billion in the NHS to drive down waiting lists, making work pay with the landmark Employment Rights Bill, and introducing the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation, with the £240 million Get Britain Working Plan.

    I therefore welcome some elements of the Government’s Green Paper, focused on improving the range of pathways and quality of support into work. This includes a £1 billion investment into employment support to increase opportunities to work for sick and disabled people, guaranteeing high-quality, tailored support.

    Alongside this, the Government will remove barriers by ensuring that going back to work in and of itself will never lead to a reassessment. A new ‘right to try’ will give people the confidence to take on job knowing that they will not lose access to benefits if it does not work out.

    However, whilst I welcome some of these measures, I am concerned about the impacts of the specific reforms to PIP and the potential impacts of the reforms on both individual claimants and the wider impact on poverty for their children. I am therefore making representations to the Government during the consultation.

    Specifically, I have written to the Government to raise detailed concerns about the potential impacts on children, including on care leavers and young carers, and on the impact of changes to the PIP assessment criteria on individual claimants. I have also asked the Government to ensure that votes on these reforms do not take place until the Government has responded in full to the consultation. I will continue to work to ensure my constituents’ concerns are heard by ministers in the coming weeks.

    I have also noted the concerns you have raised about the Government’s commitment to increasing defence spending. I believe that international development spending is vital for overcoming global challenges, saving lives, and rebuilding resilience overseas, which protects us at home too. However, it is clear that the development sector currently faces enormous challenges. These include the necessary support being provided in both Ukraine and Gaza, the need for reconstruction once peace has been established, and supporting the climate transition in the Global South.

    I support the Government in its firm commitment to stand with Ukraine. It has now been three years since Russia launched its vile assault, and if we do not achieve a lasting peace, the resulting economic instability for people in Britain and the threats to our security will only grow. Alongside this, I support increasing our defence spending to 2.5% of GDP in 2027. The challenging fiscal inheritance from the previous government does unfortunately mean that increasing spending in any area is very difficult.

    Further, I understand you have also raised concerns about MPs' pay in light of a pay rise in 2024.

    MPs’ pay, pensions and remuneration are set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which was established by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 following concerns about MPs regulating their own pay and expenses.

    As a result, IPSA is operationally independent of the Government and of Members of Parliament.

    IPSA’s chair, Richard Lloyd, announced in March 2024 that MPs’ salaries would rise, from April 2024, by 5.5%. This figure was in line with an increase in the pay of senior civil servants. As you may be aware, IPSA has a duty to continue to review the way in which MPs’ expenses are administered to ensure best value for money for taxpayers. IPSA, as usual in performance of that responsibility, published a Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs for that coming financial year. This could be found on the IPSA website.

    Shortly after my first election in 2015, IPSA announced a pay increase for MPs, which was dramatically out of kilter with other public sector pay increases at the time. I made a private decision to donate this increase in its entirety to local charities throughout the year and I continue to do so. I will make a similar private decision about any future changes to MPs’ pay.

    I appreciate your concerns about IPSA’s decision to increase MPs’ pay, particularly given wider public sector pay restraint. I do think it is right, however, that an independent body sets MPs’ pay and that MPs, like other public servants, no longer have any say in their own pay and remuneration. I also think it is important that we do not have a system where the only people who can afford to become MPs are those who are independently wealthy. That would be bad for the quality of our democracy and the constituents we serve.

    Thank you again for writing to me.

    With best wishes,

    Yours sincerely,

    Helen

    Sent on behalf of Helen Hayes MP
    Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    mr P
    · 1 days ago
    HERES A COPY OF MY LETTER TO MP MP 
    Helen Hayes

    Dulwich and West Norwood MP

    House of Commons.

    Dear Ms. Hayes,

    I am writing to you as a concerned constituent regarding several deeply troubling developments that are having a profound impact on disabled people like myself. After 14 years of devastating welfare policy under successive Conservative governments—which the Labour Party itself once labelled “The Nasty Party”—it is now under your watch, as the governing party for the past nine months, that these policies are being continued and, in some cases, worsened.


    1. Forced Migration to Universal Credit




    This month, I am being mandatorily migrated from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit (UC), despite no change in my circumstances and no consent. The consequences for me are devastating:


    I will lose three weeks of benefit payments during the transition.
    It will take me approximately two years to recover financially from that initial shortfall.
    I will be £235 worse off per month once the two-year transitional protection ends. There is no transparency about when this will occur, nor how the reductions will be phased.
    I will be forced to surrender my Motability car, which is essential for maintaining any independence.
    I will incur an additional £22 per month in council tax contributions, directly related to local governance budget changes.
    I will be pushed back below the poverty line, a place I fought for six years to escape.



    This isn’t a reform—it’s a regression. The mandatory migration is being carried out not in the interest of efficiency, but in the pursuit of cost-saving at the expense of society’s most vulnerable.


    2. Welfare Reforms: Discriminating Against Disabled People




    The recently proposed reforms to disability benefits, marketed under the guise of a “Back to Work” initiative, are an affront to the lived realities of many disabled individuals. The idea that employers will suddenly be willing or able to take on people with severe and complex health conditions is simply out of touch with reality.



    Under the new proposals:


    Despite scoring 14 points on the Daily Living component of PIP, I may lose my entitlement altogetherbecause I do not meet the arbitrary minimum of 4 points in any single activity descriptor.
    I risk losing the Severe Disability Premium and Enhanced Disability Premium I currently receive under legacy ESA.
    There is talk of freezing or removing the “Health Element” under UC—again, a move driven by austerity rather than compassion or evidence.
    All of this will cascade into losses in other entitlements: housing cost support, council tax exemptions, discounted services, etc.
    The abolition of the Support Group altogether will expose me to job-seeking conditions that are both unrealistic and harmful to my health.



    I have not worked in over a decade due to my conditions. I am not “workshy”—I am medically unfit to work. These reforms do not offer help, just the threat of benefit sanctions and destitution.


    3. Bogus Green Paper and Undermining of Democratic Oversight




    The so-called “Green Paper” on health and disability reform appears to be designed to circumvent proper consultation and limit legal recourse. It is clear that the strategy is to rush these reforms through Parliament before sufficient public and legal scrutiny can take place.



    It is my understanding that the DWP intends to apply changes retroactively, even for people like myself whose PIP award was granted until 2033. The question I ask you directly is this:



    Will I be reassessed early, and have my PIP award revoked due to these changes, despite my award running until retirement age?


    This is not a hypothetical concern—it is a question of survival. I, and nearly a million others, need clarity, honesty, and a guarantee that existing awards will be honoured.


    4. The Bigger Picture: Misplaced Spending Priorities




    What makes this assault on disabled people’s livelihoods even more disturbing is the broader context of government spending priorities. While benefits are slashed and support is stripped from society’s most vulnerable, billions are being poured elsewhere—often with little scrutiny:


    Defence Spending Surge: The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, amounting to an extra £75 billion over the next six years. While national security is important, this vast sum far outweighs the entire disability benefit budget—and comes at a time when people like me are being told we must “tighten our belts.”
    The War in Ukraine: The UK has already committed £12 billion in military, humanitarian, and economic aid to Ukraine since 2022. While supporting allies is noble, it cannot be done by sacrificing domestic welfare. Charity should begin at home—especially when our own citizens are going cold, hungry, and homeless.
    Inflation-Busting Pay Rises for MPs: In 2024, MPs received another pay rise—taking their base salary to £91,346, a 5.5% increase during a cost-of-living crisis. Meanwhile, disabled people are being told to survive on less than £800 a month and are being punished for being too ill to work.



    These choices paint a clear picture: there is money in the budget—but the government is choosing not to spend it on its own vulnerable citizens. Austerity for the public, abundance for Parliament. It is neither fair, nor sustainable, nor just.


    What I Am Asking You To Do




    As my elected representative, I urge you to:


    Vote against these harmful reforms to welfare and disability support;
    Demand a proper consultation period on the Green Paper, with input from disabled people and independent experts;
    Stand with your disabled constituents, or explain why we should continue to support you while being legislated into poverty.



    Please do not send a standardised response. I am seeking a detailed reply to the issues I’ve raised. I also request that my concerns be forwarded to the relevant minister for a formal response.


    These reforms will not empower disabled people—they will expose them to poverty, homelessness, and premature death. This is not hyperbole; it is the conclusion of numerous disability rights organisations, including Disability Rights UK and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.



    I look forward to your response.



    Yours sincerely,
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ant
    · 5 days ago
    A new petition... This one for abandoning the whole thing. 

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    Scared for life
    · 7 days ago
    I know we all are disabled people. None of us signed up to be campaigners and warriors and yet here we are . Where I live , Labour has a very strong local presence and no communication is piercing through their deaf ears . Even requests to see MP in person is ignored. Equally, I do not want to stay silent , although that’s what’s expected from us. I am very worried on what would happen to me , family and my children and the entire disabled communities in similar circumstances. I’m so worried that deaths may happen, including in my family . What did my 7 year old child do to deserve all this . 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Maxine
    · 15 days ago
    Being disabled is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
    This government's action in making cuts & changes to benefits for the disabled is what I believe to be DISCRIMINATORY & ILLEGAL & therefore breaking the law 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jo
    · 15 days ago
    My MP has stated he will vote against the cuts.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Elaine
    · 22 days ago
    I have joined a few campaigns. But I wanted to ask advice. Me and my husband are both disabled. I have long term progressive illnesses, my husband was involved in an accident 3 years ago which left him with a severe acquired brain injury and mobility problems.  We look after each other, it's hard but we do it. We've just had our review packs, I sent them back Monday. I rang to tell them I'd sent them back, I was worried about how long the post takes at the moment and I'd sent them recorded delivery. I sent a lot of evidence. The lady was very nice on the phone, told me not to worry and they give extra time for it to get there and that we were on record as needing extra support???. Today,before even had a chance to look at anything i received a text message to say that they'd asked a health professional to look at our claim to see if we are receiving the right money ( we're both currently on enhanced) and we may need a health assessment and we would continue getting paid the rate we're on while they conduct the review.  We have never had this before, should we be worried?.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Sandy Carter
    · 24 days ago
    I have seen this petion here:

    It is to Protect Disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits. Please sign this and join me  :)
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    AmyMCM
    · 24 days ago
    I wrote to my Labour MP a couple of weeks ago and got a standard response that was just a verbatim copy/paste of a generic message he'd already sent to constituents on the subject. Which in itself sounded like a copy/paste from Labour central comms. He claimed that people in the constituency (Leeds NE) had told him 'welfare wasn't working' and that they felt they had no control over their lives. So they asked for benefits to be cut for disabled people? Really?? It was so depressing to read. Lots of guff about 'perverse incentives' (must be the phrase the comms team are insisting they use, given how often I've seen it). Most of my email was about the PIP scoring which he didn't address at all other than a copy/paste about how 'Labour are concentrating PIP to the people who need it most'. It feels sickening to be fobbed off but I guess that's probably going to be most of our experience. Might move a few miles down the road so Richard Burgon can be my MP instead.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Arti Dillon
      · 20 days ago
      @Ant Its is disappointing though some are tweaking their replies a bit. It took me another 2 weeks to do a reply to his template and then I shared with my union branch to encourage them to support and take actions.

      Aiming to contact councillors too, they'll be in situation where there will be more strain on services and either use reserves, challenge govt or implement further local cuts. AND many of them move into MP roles or related....
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ant
      · 22 days ago
      @AmyMCM Definitely don't be put off by a template response. In situations like this, it's typically a numbers game—if an MP gets enough letters, it's cause for them to think again.

      It's disappointing your MP didn't address the specifics about PIP. Consider attending their surgery or booking an appointment. Tell them you're seeking an assurance that your health or financial security won't suffer as a result of any changes brought in. An MP who comes face to face with real world cases can only be one who's better informed. 

      Use of phrases like, "We are reforming our welfare system … protecting the most vulnerable" (Reeves, spring statement speech) as a euphemism for cutting welfare support is shameful and unacceptable. It's Orwellian doublespeak—and for that reason alone, Labour ministers and MP's ought to know better than to use them. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Michelle
    · 24 days ago
    Copy of my letter sent to MP just now…

    Dear ??

    I am writing to express how vital my Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is to my wellbeing and quality of life.
    This support enables me to access essential treatments and therapies that is not available through standard NHS provisions. These treatments play a crucial role in managing my conditions, helping me to maintain my independence, improve my health and continue to contribute to society through work. Without this support I would struggle to afford the care I need, which would significantly impact both my daily functioning and long-term wellbeing.
    I urge you to protect and advocate for the continuation of PIP for people like me who rely on it not as a luxury, but as a lifeline.

    Yours sincerely,
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jo
    · 29 days ago
    I have twice written to my local MP the first time took him 6 weeks to reply but he said he would fight on our behalf against the proposed cuts- the reply took almost 6 weeks to come back. 
    I thought I might read in one of his round robin emails further steps he had taken but instead there was no mention not in that one or the next 3 .
    So I wrote him again and as of yet have heard nothing 😣
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Bern400
    · 29 days ago
    Dear MP/Councillor,

    Re: Urgent Concerns About Flawed Green Paper Consultation on Disability Benefits

    I am writing to express my deep concern about the current Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) consultation titled “Modernising Support: The Health and Disability Green Paper”, which proposes significant changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit (UC), and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA).

    While these changes will have profound and life-altering consequences for disabled people, the DWP has refused to consult on the most critical proposals, including:

    Abolishing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)
    Freezing the UC health element (LCWRA) until 2029/30
    Introducing a new requirement to score at least 4 points in a single descriptor to receive the daily living component of PIP
    Merging PIP and UC assessments into a single system
    Restarting WCA reassessments ahead of its abolition

    These are major reforms with serious consequences for people with physical conditions, mental health challenges, neurodivergent profiles and fluctuating conditions — yet the public is being denied the opportunity to comment on them.

    The government's own Impact Assessment (independently verified by the OBR) of these proposals show that:

    370,00 current PIP recipients expected to lose entitlement to the daily living component on review and 430,000 future recipients. Average loss is £4,500 per year.

    150,000 current Carer's Allowance recipients (average loss of £4,200 per year)

    2.25m current recipients of UC Health to be impacted by the freeze (average loss of £500 per year – although they will also see a small rise in cash terms from the standard allowance)

    730,000 future recipients of UC health (average loss of £3,000 per year).

    The vast majority (96%) of families that lose financially have someone with a disability in the household. These families losing out are also estimated to represent 20% of all families that report having someone with a disability in the household.

    It is estimated that there will be an additional 250,000 people (including 50,000 children) in relative poverty as a result of these changes to benefits.

    The fiction that Rachel Reeves is spinning is that the claimants who lose their PIP will be able to make up their lost income by working. This claim is nonsensical because:

    Many PIP claimants already work.
    Many PIP claimants are physically and/or mentally unable to work.

    Currently 800,000 job vacancies in the UK but 1.5million unemployed people actively looking for work. So what chance do 370,000 disabled people (soon to be stripped of their PIP) and 150,000 carers (soon to be stripped of the Carer's Allowance) have of securing work to make up their lost benefits income?

    This Green Paper risks causing serious harm to thousands of disabled people — not just through its policy proposals, but through the way it is being conducted. A consultation that does not allow people to respond to the most important questions is not just flawed — it is undemocratic.

    Please stand up for fairness, transparency, and the rights of disabled people by challenging this process and demanding a lawful, open, and inclusive approach.

    Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I would be grateful for a response outlining your position and any steps you plan to take.

    Yours sincerely, 

    ***********PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY AND PASTE THE ABOVE TEXT AND SEND TO YOUR LOCAL MPS AND COUNCILLORS ETC************
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      Arti Dillon
      · 20 days ago
      @Bern400 Nice one. Thats a bit more detailed than some going round and I'm noticing that many don't understand the full impact the cuts will have.
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    adrian
    · 29 days ago
    AGE  61 claim uc, (lcwra)   . AS  tgwu  // Unite U ntion . UNITE UNTION  will be fight the cause . contacted local . 
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    Kay
    · 29 days ago
    At present I have countless hospital appointments,  no hospital nearby and to get there have to use 4 taxis and 2 trains,  between £70 /£100 per appointment.  I suffer from lots of chronic illnesses one of which is neuropathy,  the pain of my life! It's got so bad I can hardly walk now without being in tears. Work? 30 years I worked in health care!! And for what! To go back and do it again would be impossible, the patients in many cases fitter than me! I'm currently on liquid morphine for pain, its a fortnightly prescription, today 7 days after my last prescription it's been rejected twice already! The surgery can take 3 days and pharmacy up to 5 , so makes sense to order when I'm half way through.  But no ,I'm treated like a junky, a few weeks ago I had to go without for days as the surgery hadn't done it and I rang only to be told it takes 3 days not including weekends!  I'm just about giving up the ghost! When are these people who's wages we pay ,and yes I include myself in this having worked all my life till I couldn't! Going to realise it's about quality of life, without pip I might as well give up and certainly won't be attending anymore appointments, as for my GP who is the largest in Derbyshire and gets paid for all of us, I will be making an appointment to discuss this matter of prescriptions, what a waste of resources,  im 58 and feel  lower than low thanks to the powers that be 
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    Conni
    · 29 days ago
    I haven’t noticed or have missed any information regarding what happens to people of retirement age, who cannot work but receive PIP and are not within the four point rule.  They may rely on the PIP but will not have the option or ability to find work to top up the PIP payment they will lose, as the government are suggesting for younger people affected by this.  Will campaign against this disgraceful dereliction of care by this Labour government, will certainly (after 50 years) never vote for them again.  
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    TMF
    · 29 days ago
    This is all so scary. Following on from you last email I wrote to a lord, my local councillors and local MP. I’ve also signed petitions.
    I heard from one local councillor relatively quickly. Today I’ve heard from my MP who has informed me that he has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He has included a copy of my letter and has requested her to comment. Whether she will or not is another matter, but if she does I will share.
    My letter was a personal overview of what’s going on for me BUT I made it clear that everyone on Pip are on it for a reason and these changes are and will cause so much more suffering. 
    The whole pip process is a living nightmare as it is. I never in a million years thought I’d ever be in this situation. It’s disgusting we are and continue to be treated appallingly.  It’s hard enough as it is to put yourself out there and admit you need help.  But to have all of this on top of the ghastly system and process as it is, it’s too much. 
    There are no words to express it strongly enough.
    I sincerely hope all of our efforts in trying to defend ourselves is worth it. I wish each and everyone of you who need pip that this extra stress and nonsense of the party, will soon be cleared. 
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    Hach
    · 29 days ago
    Guys is the social aspect of pip count for the 4 point descriptor you need to achieve? 
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      Hach
      · 29 days ago
      @Ilo So yes it counts?
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      Ilo
      · 29 days ago
      @Hach 4 points in any of the descriptors 
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    Bronc
    · 1 months ago
    I am a DPAC member and went to a DPAC protest in Manchester which was well attended by disabled people and trade unionists. We need to step up our campaigning as most Labour MPs are ignoring their members and the public on this issue out of fear of being suspended by the Labour whips. Such cowards they are more interested in protecting their careers!
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    jan
    · 1 months ago
    I have been in touch with my MP and explained  how it affects the disabled when gov makes announcements, what DLA was orignally introduced for and why and the fact that PIp is no different. i raised all the usual copncerns with him. His response was heartening as he has the same misgivings and intimated that other MP's feel the same. He is going to raise all the issues raised by local people, of which he says he has many, in the house commons.
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      Gazmo66
      · 26 days ago
      @jan Hi Jan my name is Gary as promised I have received a letter from Liz Kendall MP for the DWP. It was her inperson it was from Emma young (DWP complaints team. It’s a lengthy letter but in short two updates following the spring statement on 26/3/25 from the issue of green paper on 18/3/25 there will be no immediate changes to anyone’s awards. Also they the government are now conducting various consultations over the next weeks most have been highlighted here already during this time and once they have reviewed all of these then and only then will any further changes be made to anyone’s existing claims. They weren’t able to give any indication as to how long this take. So I will keep this outstanding as I was hopping for a more concise answer to our questions on PIP and OAP’s . They went on to admit that delays with Reviews wasn’t acceptable and the whole process has been very time consuming due to the excessively high number of new pip requests and the amount of processing. So no diffitive answers as yet but I will continue to strive to get a better answer to our questions. But that’s the story so far. Gary
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    colcs
    · 1 months ago
    I have just sent an email to my local mp for the area i live in .
    I do not hold much hope of getting a reply from this mp , because this mp voted to cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners so what hope do we have in any support from them 
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      Blue eyes.
      · 1 months ago
      @colcs Best MP is  Croydon one. But I dont know you can use her. Have you MAYOR you can write to them.🙏🏼
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