Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that cutting disability benefits as part of welfare reforms could have devastating consequences for disabled people, risking their lives and quality of life. Reeves is set to deliver her spring statement on March 26, where she is expected to announce spending cuts to address the UK’s economic challenges. With rising borrowing costs and weak economic growth, curbing the cost of welfare is likely to be a key focus, as the sickness and disability bill for working-age people has risen by £20 billion since the pandemic and is forecast to reach £70 billion over the next five years.
One of those affected by the proposed cuts is Paul Doyle, 49, from Newcastle. Doyle, who used to work long hours as a carer and support worker, now suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and requires twice-daily visits from carers to help him eat, wash, and dress. He receives around £1,300 per month in Universal Credit (UC) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which helps cover the extra costs of living with a disability. Doyle warned that cuts to benefits would “kill people or seriously affect disabled people’s quality of life,” adding, “It’s a damn disgrace.”
Doyle, a father of two, said he wants to remain independent and not burden his family, but if his benefits are cut, he may have to give up his carers, whom he partially pays for. He expressed frustration with the government, saying, “I feel like the Government is abandoning us. I don’t know how they expect people to live… I feel like this is an attack on the disabled.”
Ruth Holden, 45, from Manchester, is another person who would be impacted by the cuts. She is a full-time carer for her husband, Paul, who lost most of the use of his legs after a workplace accident. Ruth also suffers from fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes muscle pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. The couple receives just under £1,000 per month in PIP but struggles to cover rising utility bills, food prices, and rent. They have often skipped meals to provide for their three daughters and are sometimes forced to choose between eating and heating their home.
Ruth said, “PIP doesn’t cover all our outgoings… We rely on [the Government] not taking our benefits from us. It’s not that my husband nor I don’t want to work. I would rather go to work… It’s a lot less stressful [than being on benefits].” She added, “I feel abandoned. They don’t know how we live. They’re out of touch with the person on the street.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced plans to help disabled people who can work return to jobs through an upcoming Health and Disability Green Paper. However, charities have warned that cutting disability benefits will not achieve this goal or fix the benefits system. Stewart McCulloch, chief executive of Christians Against Poverty (CAP), said the charity is “deeply concerned” by the reported cuts, arguing that they risk pushing vulnerable people into debt. He called for a protected minimum amount of social security to ensure support never falls below an “unacceptable” level.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denied that the UK is “returning to austerity” under the proposed changes but acknowledged that the cost of benefits is “going through the roof.” He argued that the current system cannot be justified on “moral” or “economic” terms and emphasized the need for reform to help people find work while providing support for those who need it most.
The proposed cuts have sparked concern among backbench Labour MPs, who fear the reforms will harm vulnerable people. Cabinet ministers are reportedly divided over the plans, with some urging Reeves to reconsider. Despite the warnings, Reeves has insisted that the government must “get a grip” on the welfare system to make it fairer for taxpayers and more sustainable in the long term.
What do you think? Should the government prioritize reforming the welfare system to encourage work, or should it focus on protecting disability benefits for vulnerable people? Share your thoughts!
