New figures show that nearly 8 in 10
(78%) low-income working-age families in receipt of
disability benefits went without essentials in
May 2025, with the levels for families with children even higher
at nearly 9 in 10 (88%). [1]
No one will be protected from the freeze to LCWRA and at least
90% of new claimants in 2029/30 will not be protected from the
halving of the rate despite mitigations for severe conditions
which the Government has set out today.
The Government's increase in employment support is expected to
help, at most, 95,000 disabled people into work covering at most
just 3% of people at risk of having their disability benefits
cut. [2]
The cuts could pull up to 400,000 more people into poverty.
[3]
Responding to the publication of the government's
Universal Credit and PIP Bill Iain Porter, Senior Policy Adviser
at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said:
“MPs have heard from their constituents the devastating impact
these cuts will have on those who are sick and disabled. MPs must
now stand up for their constituents, thousands of whom will be
pushed into poverty by this Bill, and thousands more even deeper
into hardship.
“The government is asking MPs to vote on legislation without
being given the whole picture. Ministers still can't say how many
of those who will lose thousands of pounds a year they expect to
find work. Our evidence suggests that the numbers will pale into
insignificance compared to those who lost out due to the cuts.
There has also been no proper assessment of the poverty impact of
this Bill or its unintended consequences which may increase costs
elsewhere, including further strain on the NHS.
“MPs must use their parliamentary power to resist efforts to pass
this legislation until they have a full understanding of what it
is they are voting for.”
Notes to Editors
- These families receive either PIP or the health-related
elements of Universal Credit - Limited Capability for Work (LCW)
or Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).
-
Estimating the impacts of
extra employment support for disabled people
-
Where will cuts to sickness
and disability benefits fall hardest? | Joseph Rowntree
Foundation
