UK Government announces ‘Biggest shake up to welfare system in a generation’
The UK Government has launched a consultation paper setting out major plans and proposals to reform health, disability benefits and employment support. While sight loss organisations and other disability charities have given a cautious welcome to some of the proposals, such as plans to improve the Access to Work system, other aspects of the proposals, for example, tightening the criteria for qualifying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), are a cause for concern for people with sight loss.
RNIB advises people with sight loss that ‘It’s worth knowing it will be at least a year before any changes are brought in. Importantly, over the next three months we have the opportunity to tell the UK Government what will and won’t work for blind and partially sighted people.’ You can read their statement here. This webpage will be updated with further information as it comes available.
Sense has noted that ‘The Government will have to introduce new laws to make some of the changes, and it will also be asking for feedback from the public before introducing some of the measures. So, we have a chance to tell the Government how we feel, and get them to change their mind’. Sense has set up a template which enables you to contact your MP and raise your concerns about the proposals, which you can find here.
Vision Support has produced a useful summary of the proposed changes which you can find on their website. Disability Wales is actively working to challenge any proposed cuts and push for a fairer, more inclusive system, and is also encouraging people to contact their MP to raise concerns - read their statement here.
The statement from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is on the UK Government website, and you can read the full consultation document, ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’ here.
Accessible versions of the consultation document have not yet been published. The consultation is currently set to close on 30 June, but this is subject to extension to ensure that the it will run for a full 12 weeks after all of the accessible versions of the paper are published.
Posted on the 24th of March 2025