Welfare changes: what they mean for disabled people with complex needs

Written by Evan John on

This week, MPs voted to approve a new law that will change benefits for disabled people with complex needs. But thanks to Sense campaigners and thousands of you who spoke up, the plans look very different to when they were first announced.

Here’s what’s changing – and what still needs to be challenged.

What were the original proposals?

Back in March, the Government set out plans in a Green Paper called Pathways to Work.

One of the biggest proposals was to cut the ‘Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity’ (LCWRA) element of Universal Credit – also known as the Health Element. This is extra financial support for people who cannot work because they are disabled or have a health condition.

There were three parts to this:

  1. Freeze the LCWRA payment at £97 a week, even as living costs rise.
  2. Cut the payment for new claimants from £97 to £50 a week
  3. Increase the Standard Allowance by around £5 a week

The Government also announced it was making it harder for new claimants to get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the benefit that helps disabled people pay for the extra costs they face.

The Green Paper also asked opinions on other policies:

  • Remove the LCWRA payment completely from people under the age of 22.
  • Get rid of the Work Capability Assessment, so the PIP assessment decides whether someone is eligible for extra Universal Credit.
  • Move the age at which people move from the disability benefit for children to Personal Independence Payment.

How we pushed back

Sense joined with other charities, disabled people’s organisations and campaigners to fight back against these damaging plans. We submitted evidence, met ministers, and mobilised our community.

With your help, we made our voices heard. Over 20,000 Sense supporters contacted their MPs, sharing real stories and calling for change. We also met with Government ministers to tell them exactly how these proposals would harm disabled people.

Labour MPs made it clear to the Government that they couldn’t support the proposals.

Politicians listened – and pressure mounted.

What’s changed?

The Bill is now heading to the House of Lords, where it will be debated in more detail.

If the law passes, it will come into force next year. Importantly, thanks to your efforts, it won’t affect anyone already on benefits.

The Government has made some significant changes to the Bill:

  • Scrapped the freeze to LCWRA payments.
  • Delayed any changes to PIP eligibility until after a review
  • Promised to review PIP eligibility with disabled people

If you already get LCWRA payments as part of Universal Credit, your payments won’t go down.

These wins are thanks to collective action. It shows what we can achieve when we work together.

Together, we’ll keep going

We know that when policies are made without the voices of disabled people, the impact can be devastating. That’s why we’ll keep pushing – until every decision about support, care and opportunity is shaped by those who live it.

Sense will continue working with Peers across all parties to make sure disabled people with complex needs are not forgotten.

Want to help shape the next stage of our campaign? We’ll be back in touch soon with ways to get involved.

Together, we always find a way.

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