The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), representing over 140 values-based disability charities and social enterprises, responds to the announcement of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill with significant concerns, particularly as it comes before the Consultation on the Green Paper on Welfare Reform concludes.
Whilst we acknowledge some positive elements in the legislation - including the 13-week transitional support and exemptions for those with severe conditions - and recognise that reform of our complex welfare system is needed, we remain deeply concerned about the overall approach and its potential impact on disabled people's lives.
The government frames these changes as necessary to address challenges in the social security system. However, we believe the real issues lie in decades of under-resourcing of health services, social care, education, housing, and transport, which has contributed to rising economic inactivity.
The government cites concerning statistics about rising PIP claims, particularly among young people with mental health conditions. However, these figures reflect genuine need driven by:
- The mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic
- Long NHS waiting lists preventing people from getting timely treatment
- The cost-of-living crisis disproportionately affecting disabled people who face additional costs
- Years of austerity that have stripped away early intervention and prevention services
Rather than addressing these root causes, the government's response is to restrict access to the very support that enables disabled people to live with independence and dignity.
What Disabled People Face Every Day
Our member organisations work directly with disabled people and know the daily reality of inadequate support.
- Too many disabled people cannot afford the additional energy costs required to run life-saving medical equipment
- Disabled people are forced to choose between heating their homes and buying food
- Families face months-long waits for essential equipment or adaptations
- Disabled people are denied reasonable adjustments in workplaces despite legal requirements
- Across the country disabled people, carers and families experience the trauma and stress of repeated assessments that assume they are trying to deceive the system.
The government's reforms will exacerbate all of these issues whilst doing nothing to address the structural barriers that prevent disabled people from participating fully in society.
VODG calls for a fundamentally different approach based on:
1. Co-production and Co-design
Any welfare reform must be genuinely co-produced with disabled people, families, carers and the third sector organisations working with them. The current proposals lack this foundation and fail to reflect disabled people's lived experiences.
2. Investment in Root Causes
Rather than cutting support, the government should invest in:
- Supporting EHCPs, SEND and family-based support, where appropriate, so that disabled children and young people do not face a cliff edge at adulthood
- Reducing NHS waiting lists so people can access timely treatment, support and advice
- Properly funding social care and early intervention services
- Making training, apprenticeships and work genuinely accessible through employer support and enforcement of equality duties
- Addressing the cost-of-living pressures that disproportionately affect disabled people.
3. Adequate Financial Support
The social security system should provide an "Essentials Guarantee" ensuring no one needs to use disability-related support to cover basic living costs. The basic rate of Universal Credit must be sufficient to cover essentials like food, household bills, and travel.
We also support calls for the government to introduce a targeted energy social tariff for disabled and low-income households to address the disproportionately high energy costs faced by disabled people who require additional heating and power for medical equipment.
4. Respect and Dignity
The system should treat disabled people of all ages, with respect and dignity, recognising that most people want to contribute to society when barriers are removed, rather than assuming they need to be incentivised or pressured.
5. Accessible and Fair Assessments
Whilst we welcome protections for some people with severe conditions, the criteria remain too narrow. For example, people with learning disabilities should be automatically included in the Severe Conditions Group and exempted from reassessments, recognising that learning disability is a lifelong condition that does not improve over time. It is also important to:
- Ensure all assessment materials are available in Easy Read, Braile and BSL formats as standard
- Provide mandatory access to advocacy support throughout the assessment process
- Implement mandatory specialist training on learning disability for all PIP decision-makers and assessors
- Improve appeal support and ensure clear information about appeal rights is provided in accessible formats
The Universal Credit and PIP legislation in its current form represents a missed opportunity to create a system that truly supports disabled people to live independently and participate fully in society.
VODG urges the government to pause these reforms and engage in further consultation with disabled people, families, carers and the third organisations and networks that work alongside them. Only through such collaboration can we build a welfare system that provides adequate support, removes barriers to participation, and treats all disabled people with the dignity and respect they deserve.
The government speaks of a "new social contract," but true social solidarity requires investing in people and communities, not cutting support for the most vulnerable. VODG stands ready to work with government to develop reforms that genuinely improve disabled people's lives.
VODG members are ready to work constructively with government, MPs, and all stakeholders to develop reforms that genuinely improve disabled people's lives while ensuring the welfare system provides adequate support for those who need it most.