Local charity deeply concerned by plans to cut £5bn from disability benefits

• Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire has condemned the cuts to disability benefits announced by the Government
• Itis important for people concerned to be aware that the changes are not coming in immediately
• But the charity believes the plans will make things harder for people already struggling

The biggest advice charity in South Gloucestershire is worried cuts to disability benefits will make life harder for people already struggling in the region.

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is responding to the announcement from the Government last week that £5bn would be cut from disability welfare.

Changes include stricter tests for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – a benefit paid to people with disabilities and long-term health conditions who need extra help with daily living or mobility. This potentially means payments will be reduced for many.

In addition, incapacity benefits for new Universal Credit claimants will be halved. The proposals also state people aged under 22 will no longer be able to claim the incapacity benefit top-up to Universal Credit.

Disability benefits claimants already more likely to need our help

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire has warned people living with long-term health conditions and disabilities already make up a disproportionately high percentage of the people it helps – at 48% compared to 16.5% across South Gloucestershire according to the 2021 census.

This indicates people with long-term health conditions and disabilities are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis more than others.

These changes will push more families into needing to use food banks and requiring charitable help.

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire has already recorded a tenfold increase in people needing foodbanks and charitable support compared to prior to the pandemic.

The charity has warned these plans will make life harder for those already struggling – and that a new welfare system is needed that helps people solve their problems rather than creating new ones.

What we are calling for

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is – alongside national Citizens Advice – calling for:

• A whole-system approach to helping people into work
• More help for people to find and keep good jobs
• Better help with wider living costs
• Poor quality housing to be addressed
• A benefits system focused on fixing problems, as well as patching things up
• A new principle for disability and incapacity benefits: prevention

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire CEO Chantal Watts said: “It’s important for people concerned to be aware that these cuts to disability benefits won’t come in straight away. But we are nevertheless deeply concerned by the proposed changes.

“People with disabilities and long-term health conditions make up a disproportionately high number of our clients – showing the cost-of-living crisis is having a particularly significant impact for these people.

“Reducing payments for people on PIP as well as Universal Credit incapacity benefits will make life harder for people who are already struggling and put more strain on charities and food banks as they continue to help those in need.

“We’d like to see systemic issues like poor quality housing addressed as well as better help with wider living – rather than cuts to funds which are desperately needed by the people we help.”

‘These plans will just make life harder for those already struggling’

Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “This Government says it wants to boost living standards and tackle child poverty, but you can’t do that while slashing support for those who need it most. Yes, the benefits system needs fixing but these plans will just make life harder for those already struggling.

“Our data is clear: disabled people already struggle with financial issues more than others. Many people getting disability benefits are also raising children so these cuts will send even more families to food banks.

“We need a benefits system that helps people solve their problems, not create new ones.”

National Citizens Advice has recently published a report showing millions of households are just £20 away from crisis even before expected bills rises in April.

Locally, Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire helps more than 7,000 people in the region per year through face-to-face drop-ins as well as its free Adviceline on 0808 278 7947.

You can support the charity – including for its upcoming move to larger premises at Unit 1 Badminton Court, Station Road, Yate – by donating at this link.

Published 01/04/25