Charities Call for the Government to Reconsider Cuts to Disability Benefits 21 March 2025 We have joined UK Charity Scope and over 60 organisations in calling for the Government to reconsider recently announced reforms to welfare provision, including the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the Limited Capability for Work Amount. While we welcome the Government’s aims to help more disabled people into work, many with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including arthritis, may not be able to work because of the severity of their condition. As many employers are currently unable to provide the flexibility needed to support people into work, and for some disabled people work isn’t appropriate, reducing financial support for those most in need is not the answer. We would urge you to safeguard disability benefits from cuts, we fear the cost of cuts is too great. Our Medical Advisor, Dr Wendy Holden added: “People with disabilities who manage to work have better health outcomes and help contribute to society through paying taxes, so Arthritis Action strongly supports any initiatives aimed at helping people stay or get back into work or training. Unfortunately, many people with a disability are unable to work or have not worked for many years and trying to force these people back into work by cutting their disability benefits, especially without plans in place to help them back to work will firstly not work and secondly will seriously affect their already limited quality of life and force them deeper into poverty. No disabled person chooses to be disabled, and disability benefits are designed to support those in society who need the most help. Cutting disability benefits, in particular PIP which is a gateway benefit for other benefits is cruel and will have a devastating impact on those who need the most support and will be an additional burden to the many unpaid carers who support disabled people. We urge the Government to first focus on developing help to work schemes before harming the people who most need support.” Read the open letter here: The cost of cuts to disability benefits: Our open letter to the Chancellor | Disability charity Scope UK Learn more about Scope’s ‘Cost of cuts’ campaign here: The cost of cuts | Disability charity Scope UK
