Millions of people who depend on disability benefits were watching yesterday’s Commons vote on welfare reform closely. Here six people talk give their verdict’s on the government plans.
The Government’s welfare reforms eventually got over the line after a tense day in the House of Commons yesterday. But dozens of Labour MPs refused to back the bill – a sign of the deep unease within the party about how the changes will affect disabled people and concerns about a ‘two tier’ benefits system.
Others watching the proceedings closely were those who depend on the state for support as they cope with serious illness and disabilities.
While the rebellion forced PM Keir Starmer to reverse some cuts to universal credit and protect current claimants of personal independence payment (Pip) from stricter eligibility rules, many disabled people are still fearful about the future. Here six of them give their verdicts…
Vie’s story
Confidence coach and children’s book author Vie Portland, 54, from Hampshire, needs a stick to walk and suffers from multiple conditions including Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) a group of rare genetic skin conditions causing extra fragile skin that blisters and tears easily; degenerative spinal disease and ADHD.
She receives PIP, which covers treatments outside the NHS, special underwear and clothes because of her fragile skin, dressings and transport.
She tells The Mirror: “News that MPs aren’t voting on PIP yet could be a victory for common sense, but I worry it could also be an attempt to put making a decision off and to distract us with something else. It does feel very messy.
“Everyone is so at risk from going from non-disabled to disabled, due to something like an accident or a cancer diagnosis, and I am concerned for new claimants.
“What about the young people that will now not qualify for PIP, so will not be able to afford to go to university because they won’t have the PIP to cover the additional costs we, as disabled people, have to pay?
“I have been a Labour supporter all of my life, yet this current government disappoints and appalls me, so I will not be voting for them until their policies return to ones that are true Labour policies – ones that don’t just support privileged people.”
Dena’s story
Dena Britcliffe, 32, lives in Kent, with partner Max, 32, a full-time carer and their five children: Mia, 13, Teddy, 12, Harlow, 8, Franky, 5 and Hallie-Rose, 4.
Dena has functional neurological disorder (FND), fibromyalgia and suspected Ehlers Danlos syndromes, causing hypermobility and dislocations. Frankie has global development delay, autism and pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and is currently unable to cope with school.
Dena, who receives PIP and Universal Credit, says: “Another u-turn makes it so much more confusing for the disabled and vulnerable. Surely they should pull the bill completely until it is a better thought out plan with real life people taken into consideration.
“PIP is my lifeline – I use the financial help to pay for aids and equipment including a wheelchair and walking frame and travel to hospital appointments in London. Life costs a lot more when you are disabled.
“The new points system worries me. Assessors are not doctors, they don’t have medical training and the new points system will be harsher with even stricter targets because they want to keep the costs down. The Government has treated disabled families with contempt – they have no idea what it’s like to be disabled. If I didn’t have PIP I wouldn’t be able to leave the house, I wouldn’t able to pay for all our food.
“We need a whole Government overhaul. The Government is disregarding thousands of disabled people.”
Lianne’s story
Lianne White, 46, from Hampshire, is blind and took four years to get PIP, finally being awarded it after a tribunal.
She says: “’What just happened in Parliament makes no sense. Their own MPs are telling them to pull the bill, yet they’re still voting on it with none of the promised changes.The so-called concessions were an absolute joke.
“Lots of people use PIP to buy mobility aids so that they can stay in work – stripping PIP will do the opposite to what the government wants to achieve. It’s going to screw up a lot of lives.
“When you are blind you rely on voice operated devices and specialist computers but these are all very expensive – even second hand they cost £2,000. I can’t use buses on my own – I have to use taxis if I’m by myself and they are very expensive and PIP helps towards this cost.
“It’s really hard to get PIP – I applied in 2021 and was declined – I appealed and it went to tribunal. I had to wait four years!
“The Government is discriminating against disabled people. They are gaslighting and just trying to appease the rebel MPs. I think people will be driven to suicide if they lose PIP.”
Georgia’s story
Georgia Bondy, 30, from East London is secretary of the Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) Forum England. She has Multiple Sclerosis and Ehlers Danlos syndrome and is often bedbound, but was refused PIP as her assessor didn’t feel her condition was severe enough.
She says: “It’s already an incredibly hostile system for disabled people and the Government is proposing to make it even harsher. The narrative being pedalled out is that disabled people are asking for too much, are too greedy, don’t want to work.. but it’s really difficult to get PIP. When I applied for PIP I was bedbound and having to crawl to the bathroom, my joints were dislocating and I was passing out. But I was ruled not eligible.
“I have very little faith that any scheme in the future. People are saying the Government has done a u-turn but it’s not a u-turn, it’s just to calm the rebel MPs down so they are back on side. What the Government is proposing is to damn our children to a future where many of them will be unable to buy food or pay rent if they become disabled.”
Abrigail’s story
University student Abigail Holly, 22, from Swansea was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 – aged 16.
She says PIP has been her lifeline, explaining: “I was in my first year of college when I was diagnosed with a tumour in my finger. I had two lots of surgery to remove the tumour and had no movement in my hands for weeks. I was out of college for months.
“My life completely stopped. PIP allowed me to keep my head above the water – without it I’d have no money to get to the hospital for appointments, to buy food. It was the only thing allowing me to continue living, it was a complete lifeline.
“It’s hard to fully comment right now on what the government’s doing, as they’re not discussing the PIP changes as such. But it’s making me wonder, why aren’t they? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? It’s very strange and worrying at the same time.”
Jamie’s story
Remedial therapist Jamie McCormack, 53, from Surrey, is deaf and uses a wheelchair after being hit by a car. He receives PIP, which helps with costs like hydrotherapy, an assisted trike and pain management.
He says: “After a weekend of chaos & non concessions, I’m not surprised that Starmer was forced into an inevitable last minute climbdown. The concessions are chaotic and confusing.
“What happens if you lose PIP and you have to reapply? You shouldn‘t be at the mercy of a decision-making assessor.
“Why is the Government putting people through all this, rather than championing disabled lives? They could do so much better.”