On 18th March 2025, the UK Government announced sweeping welfare reforms, cutting £5 billion from disability benefits. Here’s what these changes mean – and why disabled people are speaking out.
Yesterday, Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, unveiled Labour’s long-awaited Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper consultation.
After 14 years of Tory rule and austerity policies that are effectively deadly attacks on the disability community (In 2016, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights declared that UK’s austerity policies to be incompatible with human rights), the promise of Labour would surely be better for disabled people? However, the reforms have brought more fear than hope.
The disability community received the devastating news that the government would be cutting 5 billion from disability payments, the biggest cuts to disability benefits on record. Labour MPs and charities have strongly opposed these reforms, warning that they will push vulnerable groups further into poverty and increase pressure on health and social care systems.
A summary of the proposed benefit reforms:
WCA to be scrapped
The government plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) by 2028, aiming to remove the binary classification of individuals as either fit or unfit for work. Instead, eligibility for additional financial support will be determined through a single PIP assessment process and be based on the impact of disability on daily living, not on capacity to work.
PIP eligibility to be tightened
Personal Independant Payment (PIP) will be focussed more on those with higher needs but will remain non means tested. However, there will be a shift to face-to-face assessment.
To qualify for the daily living component of PIP, claimants will now need to score at least four points in one daily living activity.
Claims for neurodiverse conditions and mental health were said to be “overdiagnosed” in young people and cited as major reasons for reform.
The Government will also launch a process to review the PIP assessment.
UC to be adjusted
The standard allowance for Universal Credit (UC) recipients will increase by approximately £15 per week starting April 2026. However, the incapacity benefit component will be reduced for new claimants deemed unfit for work, with existing claimants’ support being frozen.
Individuals under 22 seeking the health top-up of UC will no longer qualify. Savings from this measure will be redirected into work support and training programs to assist young people in entering the workforce.
Investing in Employment Support
An additional £1 billion annually will be allocated to job support schemes, ranging from supportive calls to intensive training programs, to assist individuals in returning to work.
For more information on benefits reforms, visit Disability Rights UK.
Statement from Jane Hatton, CEO of Evenbreak
Enough. We’re not here to be fixed; the system is.
Let’s be honest, what the government is calling “welfare reform” is anything but supportive. These changes aren’t about dignity, inclusion, or opportunity. They’re about control, cuts, and coercion. This isn’t support, it’s sanctions in disguise.
At Evenbreak, we’re disabled-led. Every one of us has lived experience of disability including chronic illness, pain, fatigue, and mental health conditions. We understand the reality behind the headlines.
So when the government talks about “expectations to engage” and starts tightening the rules for PIP eligibility, we hear it loud and clear; pressure is being applied where support is needed. Sanctions, surveillance, and suspicion are being packaged as care.
We welcome scrapping unnecessary reassessments for those who are never going to be well enough to work. That’s a step in the right direction. But it’s a small concession in a reform that’s still built on a false, dangerous assumption that the biggest issue facing disabled people is a lack of motivation.
That’s not just wrong, it’s insulting.
Disabled people are already trying. Trying to stay well. Trying to find jobs in a world that still doesn’t accommodate us. Trying to survive in a system that treats us with suspicion at every turn.
The barriers we face aren’t about us, they’re about systems that haven’t caught up. Even well-meaning employers can unknowingly exclude disabled talent through inaccessible processes or rigid expectations. And we’re navigating a benefits system that punishes people for being unwell. The real fix needed here isn’t disabled people, it’s the system itself.
This “shake-up” does nothing to change employer attitudes or ensure accessible, flexible, meaningful work is available. It just tells disabled people to work harder, apply more, and prove ourselves yet again or lose everything.
We are not here to be “unlocked,” “incentivised,” or “pushed.” We are here to live full, self-directed lives in whatever way is right for our bodies, our minds, and our realities.
To the disabled people reading this, we see you. We believe you. And we will fight with you.
At Evenbreak, we offer a DWP-free, judgment-free space where you can find inclusive jobs, free career coaching, and genuine support from people who understand. We don’t report to anyone but you. We’re not interested in compliance only in equity, autonomy, and justice.
We’ve had enough. We’re not here to be fixed, the system is. And we won’t stop until it is.
Although this is an anxiety-inducing time for disabled people, it’s important to know that none of these changes will happen until 2026 and beyond. If you need help or advice, Scope has a helpline on 0808 800 333. If you need to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, you can call Samaritans on 116 123.
I despair at what society is doing to neurodiverse people. We are being dismissed as scroungers and wasters. If only they understood our challenges! Only, I don’t believe those holding power can be bothered with our struggles. The average politician (of any denomination) is only interested in their own career progress. I’m approaching retirement age, so I hope I’ll be ok. But my daughter who has Autism, and post brain tumour difficulties could be screwed by this ‘oh so caring’ government. Bless their little hearts – little being the significant word….
Thank you for sharing your concerns, Chris. You’re absolutely right – neurodiverse people are being unfairly labeled, and these reforms are a threat. It’s frustrating to see those in power dismiss the real challenges disabled people face while pretending these changes are about “support.”
We hear you, and we understand your fears for your daughter. No one should have to live with the uncertainty of whether they’ll be able to access the support they need. That’s why we at Evenbreak continue to push for real inclusion – where disabled people are heard, valued, and supported.
If there’s anything we can do to help, whether it’s providing career support or simply offering a space where you and your daughter feel seen, we’re here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
I am SERVERLY blind on benefits what will I do it’s giving me sleepless night how will I pay the bill my bills are high.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this – it’s completely unacceptable that anyone should be left in such distress over how they’ll afford basic living costs. You deserve to feel secure, not have sleepless nights over bills.
Although this is an anxiety-inducing time for disabled people, it’s important to know that none of these changes will happen until 2026 and beyond. If you need help or advice related to the news, Scope has a helpline on 0808 800 333. If you need to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, you can call Samaritans on 116 123. It may also be worth reaching out to Disability Rights UK or Citizens Advice for guidance on what support is available to you. We know the system is far from fair, but there may be some ways to challenge decisions or access additional help.
At Evenbreak, we focus on helping disabled people find inclusive employers who truly value their skills. If you’re looking for work or support, we’d love to help in any way we can. You’re not alone in this, and we stand with you.
The sad reality is that most employers esp at junior /middle manager level hiring managers don’t want to employ disabled jobseekers which is why they use recruitment agencies to screen disabled jobseekers out. As a deaf job seeker 25 years ago, I never got an interview for a job through an agency as they were too concerned about losing clients if they put cvs from disabled job seekers through to them. It is much harder now as the job market is so competitive compared to 25 years ago. I am just glad that at 57 I can afford to retire early into a dignified retirement. Even public sector work places have got worse for disabled job seekers with many of these workplaces looking not only to exclude new disabled job seekers but force existing disabled employees out through the now notorious work improvement plans aiming to increase efficiency and productivity regardless of the human cost to employees. I would recommend my niece and nephew to seriously consider going down the self employment route with skills that people will pay good money for as working for employers has become rigid and toxic plus AI will cause a lot of office jobs to be lost!.
Thank you for sharing your experience – it’s a harsh reality that many disabled jobseekers still face discrimination, and your story highlights exactly why change is so desperately needed.
We completely understand the frustration of being shut out of opportunities due to bias. That’s exactly why Evenbreak exist — to connect disabled jobseekers with employers who are truly committed to inclusion. The employers we work with don’t just talk about diversity; they actively create workplaces where disabled employees can thrive.
We appreciate you sharing your perspective, and we hope your niece and nephew find a career path that values them for their talents. If they ever need support in navigating self-employment options, we’d be happy to help.
My name is Ben I’m 35, I have brittle bone disease, i am a wheelchair user for life, I currently claim esa in the support group and pip and I am extremely anxious about the new reforms as to whether I will be forced into work or not and the anxiety has made me very ill and have a mini breakdown.