{"id":77590,"date":"2025-11-10T13:22:03","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T13:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?page_id=77590"},"modified":"2026-05-07T13:37:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T12:37:08","slug":"act-now-to-stop-cuts-to-disability-benefits","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/get-involved\/campaign\/act-now-to-stop-cuts-to-disability-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Act now to stop cuts to\u00a0disability benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t<div class=\"banner    is-style-red-tint-10  align-full\">\t\t<div class=\"banner__flex\">\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"banner__figure\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-900x600.jpg\" class=\"banner__img\" alt=\"Mo Azeem, a man sitting down wearing a grey bodywarmer and looking straight at the camera\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mohammed_azeem_campaigner_nov25.jpg.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" style=\"object-position: 32.27% 57.79%;\" \/> \t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"banner__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p class=\"is-style-intro-xl\">The Government is considering cutting vital support for disabled people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-intro-xl\">Sign our petition. We need your help to <strong>stop the cuts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/action.sense.org.uk\/page\/188369\/petition\/1\"><strong>Add your name<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-hs-group    margin-top-3xl  margin-bottom-3xl\">\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-title-primary\">What is happening?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Benefits are a lifeline for millions of disabled people in the UK. They provide vital financial security for those unable to work or facing significant barriers to employment, while helping to cover the extra costs of essentials such as care and energy. <strong>But this support is under threat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Government has already cut the Universal Credit health element \u2013 paid to people who are unable to work \u2013 by&nbsp;nearly half&nbsp;for new&nbsp;claimants, and&nbsp;is now considering making young people wait until age 22 before they can claim it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\"><strong>These changes will not address the real barriers to employment; they will only push more people into poverty and hardship.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which helps cover the extra costs of disability, have not been ruled out and could return following a review later this year.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-hs-group  \">\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-title-primary\">What Sense is calling for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sense is calling on the Government to protect disability benefits and ensure disabled people are not pushed further into hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box    is-style-textured-primary-tint-10\">    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>We are calling on ministers to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-primary-bullets\">\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Stop the removal of the health element of Universal Credit for people under 22.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Rule out any further reductions in support for those assessed as not being able to work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-small-font-size\">Rule out making it harder to access Personal Independence Payment (PIP).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Act now before it&#8217;s too late. Don\u2019t allow these harmful changes to happen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disabled people should not be forced into poverty because of benefit cuts. Join us in saying no to these cuts, and call on the Government to protect the disability benefits millions rely on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/action.sense.org.uk\/page\/188369\/petition\/1\"><strong>Add your name<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block  quoteWithImage    align-wide\">\n\t<figure class=\"quoteWithImage__image\">\n\t\t<div class=\"image--circle-masked\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image--circle-masked__container\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-0188-500x333.jpg\" class=\"attachment-small size-small\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-0188-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-0188-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-0188-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-0188-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-0188-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-0188.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-textured-grey-tint-10 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"is-style-default has-x-large-font-size\">Stop making the cuts because it&#8217;s having, and it will have a huge effect on people with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default has-x-large-font-size\">The more people that speak up, that&#8217;s how change will happen because if you don&#8217;t say anything, nothing will. <\/p>\n<cite>Mo, Sense campaigner<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-hs-group  \">\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-title-primary\">Life on welfare: a family\u2019s reality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra cares for her 14-year-old son Ayman, who has complex needs, while also living with a long-term health condition of her own. She shares the daily challenges her family faces and speaks about the impact of rising costs and welfare cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Disability benefits cuts: Sandra&#039;s story\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8Silp-bVxZg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block    accordion__item\"> \t<summary class=\"accordion__title\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion__toggle\">\n\t\tVideo description of Sandra&#039;s video\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t<\/summary>\n\n\t<div class=\"accordion__content\">\n\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p><strong>A close-up of Sandra sitting on a sofa in her living room, speaking directly to the camera. Occasional clips show her son Ayman, a 14-year-old boy, standing in a garden and looking up at the sky.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: A lot of people who have to rely on welfare definitely don\u2019t want to. They unfortunately have to because it\u2019s the hand they\u2019re being dealt with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: My name is Sandra. I\u2019ve got two children, one is 16 and the other one is 14. Besides his autism, Ayman has sensory processing disorder, and I\u2019ve got MS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: Ayman doesn\u2019t use the toilet, so I buy him pull-ups. Electric bills, because you can see he\u2019s always mucky, so he goes through two, three changes of clothes every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: And then you have the specifics, like in his case, the joggers, the tops that he wears, it has to be all cotton, you know, no stitching or stuff on it that might rub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: Everything adds up, and all these things, because they\u2019re so specific, they cost a lot more money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: They keep going on about putting people back in work and I just think it\u2019s really unfair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: If I go specific on Ayman, for example, he doesn\u2019t even know what a job is. How can he go and get one? He\u2019s never going to be able to hold down a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: When I\u2019m gone, he\u2019s going to rely on his government. But with them trying to cut, cut, cut, what are they going to do, lock him away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandra: We\u2019re not statistics. We\u2019re not numbers or a percentage on your budget. It\u2019s people and it\u2019s their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Sense logo appears.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block  slab    is-style-textured-primary-tint-10  align-full\">\n  <div class=\"wrap\">  <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-title-primary\">Explore the situation so far<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"grid  grid-flexbox  grid-4-cols\"><div>\n<div class=\"card\">\n      <figure class=\"card__figure\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/46060-600x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-card-supportive size-card-supportive\" alt=\"Sandra and Ayman are sitting facing each other. Ayman is using hand gestures to communicate with his mum\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n  \n  <div class=\"card__content\">\n    <h2 class=\"card__title  h4\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/disability-benefits-cuts-were-not-statistics-were-people-and-these-are-our-lives\/\" class=\"card__link  link--stretched\">\n              Disability benefits cuts: \u201cWe\u2019re not statistics. We\u2019re people. And these are our lives.\u201d\n              <\/a>\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div class=\"card__meta\">\n        <span class=\"card__label\">Talking Sense blog<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"card__description\">\n\t\t\tSandra shares the reality of what it&#8217;s like to live on welfare for her and her family.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div>\n<div class=\"card\">\n      <figure class=\"card__figure\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/17_12_Sense_casestudy-9404-600x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-card-supportive size-card-supportive\" alt=\"Two hands holding.\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n  \n  <div class=\"card__content\">\n    <h2 class=\"card__title  h4\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/policy\/whats-happening-with-welfare-reform-right-now\/\" class=\"card__link  link--stretched\">\n              What\u2019s happening with welfare reform right now?\n              <\/a>\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div class=\"card__meta\">\n        <span class=\"card__label\">Policy<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"card__description\">\n\t\t\tEvan explains the latest changes to disability benefits and why many of them are deeply concerning.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div>\n<div class=\"card\">\n      <figure class=\"card__figure\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Sense-in-Parliament-600x300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-card-supportive size-card-supportive\" alt=\"The UK Parliament building in London\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n  \n  <div class=\"card__content\">\n    <h2 class=\"card__title  h4\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/press-releases\/welfare-reform-plans-leave-disabled-people-living-in-fear-and-feeling-demonised-new-research-reveals\/\" class=\"card__link  link--stretched\">\n              Welfare reform plans leave disabled people living in fear, research reveals\n              <\/a>\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div class=\"card__meta\">\n        <span class=\"card__label\">Press releases<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"card__description\">\n\t\t\tDisabled people are living in fear and feeling increasingly stigmatised due to the government\u2019s proposed reforms.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div>\n<div class=\"card\">\n      <figure class=\"card__figure\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sense_supportedliving_exeter_096-e1668180650148-scaled-1-600x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-card-supportive size-card-supportive\" alt=\"Lin, a woman with short grey hair, making a cup of tea in her supported living home in Exeter.\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n  \n  <div class=\"card__content\">\n    <h2 class=\"card__title  h4\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/benefits-and-money\/\" class=\"card__link  link--stretched\">\n              Benefits and money\n              <\/a>\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div class=\"card__meta\">\n        <span class=\"card__label\">Guidance<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"card__description\">\n\t\t\tIf you or someone in your family is disabled, financial support may be available. Find out about the benefits and funding options you could be entitled to.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box    is-style-textured-grey-tint-10\">    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who are we?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sense is here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, we can achieve long-term change. Through our campaign work we step up in the face of adversity and unite with the 1.6 million disabled people with complex needs in the UK.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out more, contact our policy, public affairs and research team: <a href=\"mailto:policy.research@sense.org.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">parliamentary@sense.org.uk<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Government is considering cutting vital support for disabled people with complex needs. We need your help to stop the cuts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":771,"featured_media":0,"parent":920,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"content_label":[],"class_list":["post-77590","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/77590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/771"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/77590\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"content_label","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_label?post=77590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}