New Green Paper Discussion - now includes accessible formats and consultation event sign up links!
Comments
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"Thankyou so if the government not consulting on pip and wca what's all this for then ?"
Lip service, I guess.
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Hi @Santosha12 ,
It’s always so uplifting to hear from you, and thank you so much for your kind words. This forum exists because of people like you who bring warmth, insight, and solidarity. I simply wanted to offer a helping hand in our collective effort to oppose the damaging proposals set out in the March 2025 Pathways to Work Green Paper. Sharing the official document link was just a small gesture, because your knowledge and thoughtful reflections have been incredibly valuable across many discussions here.
Like you, I care deeply about justice for disabled people, and the deeper I delved into this Green Paper, the more I realised it’s not about reform – it’s about cost-cutting. It threatens to dismantle or reduce benefits that are rightfully in place to support disabled and vulnerable people, impacting not only individuals but their families and communities as well. It’s especially alarming because the evidence used to justify these sweeping changes is flimsy, unreviewed, and clearly not peer-assessed.
The most powerful way we can challenge this is by directly responding to the consultation. Whether through the online form, by email (details provided on the government’s consultation page), or by attending the recently announced public engagement events, every response matters. It’s crucial that they hear from us – clearly and loudly – that these proposals are harmful, unjustified, and must not proceed.
We must use their own words and evidence to expose the contradictions and flaws. Share your lived experience. Talk about the real-life consequences – not just on you, but on your family and community. This isn’t just policy; it’s people’s lives. If we can flood the consultation with evidence-based opposition and heartfelt testimonies, they will have no choice but to present that feedback transparently as part of the formal review process before any White Paper or policies can be developed.
At the same time, we should continue supporting every charity, campaign, and grassroots movement that stands for disability rights. Collective action and visible solidarity are vital. If we remain silent, we risk giving consent through inaction. That’s the last thing we can afford now. I truly believe this is a critical moment – one of the most important opportunities we’ve had in years to push back.
And coming back to your message – no need to apologise for going off on a tangent! I absolutely love it when conversations flow organically.As you could see here, I’m known for taking people on a ride too. 😉Thanks for your insights on Orwell’s book-The Road to Wigan Pier.I hadn’t read it myself, but your analogy about swapping the word “unemployment” for “disabled/sick” is powerful and chillingly accurate. It really does feel like history is repeating itself, except this time we’re the ones in the firing line.
I am also glad to hear that you’re planning to write to Sir Michael Marmot and the Baroness. I think that’s a brilliant idea. Sir Michael’s work on inequality, health, and poverty is well respected, and I can only imagine his thoughts on this Green Paper- I doubt they’d be anything but critical. I haven’t followed all of his publications, so I’ll be doing some reading too. If you come across anything particularly striking, please do share – every angle we can use to challenge these proposals is important.
Thank you as well for your kind wishes after my fall – that really meant a lot. The A&E team worked flat out under intense pressure and appalling conditions. It was boiling hot, no working ventilation, no open windows, and packed with patients. I finished an entire 1.5 litre bottle of water, and my son had to bring me another just to cope.Honestly, hats off to the nurses and all the staff -they’re true heroes. I know you’re one of them, so a big salute to you.🫡Btw – how on earth did you manage to fracture your wrist pulling out a weed?!🤔 That sounds so painful, Hopefully not osteoporosis, eh? Regardless, I hope you’ve recovered well since then.
You also mentioned your new HP ink plan – I found that really interesting! I’ve never heard of those subscription models before. I’ve got a Brother printer myself, mainly used for PIP and UC forms. The cartridges are absurdly expensive – £60 each for colour. In regards to the green paper proposals,It’s shocking that we even have to pay for accessible formats like large print, braille, or audio CDs. It’s yet another example of how this government profits off the backs of the very people it should be protecting. They create business for third-party providers while stripping us of our support. It’s so wrong.
Back to the matter at hand – I want to also mention that I’ve been engaging with other users and started sharing some posts in previous threads that debunk many of the falsehoods in the Green Paper. I know @Holly_Scope kindly pinned the main consultation link on the homepage, but I struggled to find it again amongst the multiple pages of valuable discussion. There’s been so much personal stories shared, and it’s all worth reading if anyone has the time.
Please don’t underestimate how valuable your input is, especially now. I encourage you – and everyone here – to respond to the consultation, even if you don’t feel confident. Just write in your own words how these changes would affect you. If it helps, think of it like submitting 10 or 15 PIP applications all at once. It’s effortful, but it’s worth it. This is our only real chance before the proposals are formalised into legislation. And once it reaches that point, it will be even harder to stop.We do not want that to happen,
They think we’ve been sleeping through all of this, but we’ve just been hibernating. Now, we’re awake. And we’re not going to take this lying down.
As someone else on the forum recently said – it feels like we’ve been dragged back into the dark ages, where disabled people are expected to stay quiet and obey. That struck a chord with me. Are we really living in a democracy when the cries of millions are so blatantly ignored by a ruling party ? I’m beginning to doubt it. Still, we must not let that doubt turn into despair.
There are people out there, not on forums like this, who are suffering in silence. Many vulnerable people don’t even know this consultation is happening. Others feel it’s already too late, that there’s no point responding. I want to be a voice that says – it’s not too late. We can fight this. We must fight this.
A close healthcare colleague of mine, who works part-time and claims PIP due to serious mental health challenges, broke down during a recent call. She told me she had everything in place to end her life if these cuts went ahead. She believed she had no future. I had to talk her down and almost contacted the police for a welfare check due to the vulnerable state she was in . That’s how deep the trauma is running. It broke my heart, but it also lit a fire in me to keep going – for her, and for everyone else in the same position.
So yes, let’s do this. Let’s speak out. Let’s challenge. Let’s share our stories, our facts, and our humanity. Together we will make a difference.
Thank you again, @santosha12, for your thoughtful reflections, your activism, and your empathy. We need more people like you in this world.
Catch up again soon.Peace and strength to you,(Apologies for the long post)
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@chiarieds, you’re very welcome. Thanks for your compliment. Thank you also for sharing the link to the Commons Liaison Committee session. I truly felt that the questions raised were highly relevant and pressing-yet, Starmer’s responses came across as vague and lacking clarity, almost like a failed “Dragons Den” pitch response . It gave the impression that these policies are far from fully thought through.
That was an excellent and thoughtful response from your MP. I completely agree: a truly inclusive government should meaningfully consult at every stage of policy development-especially when proposing changes that directly impact the most vulnerable. The decision to abolish the WCA without consultation, and the proposal to make PIP even more inaccessible by proposing the 4 point daily living criteria , is neither inclusive nor transparent. As you rightly pointed out, this approach risks depriving disabled people of two critical benefits. It appears to be a cost-cutting agenda cloaked in policy reform.We must continue to oppose these proposals by engaging with the consultation and voicing the potential devastation they could cause. The document from Carers UK offers a clear, evidence-based critique of the Green Paper, highlighting just how significantly carers and those they care for will be affected.
Thank you again for your insightful contribution and for continuing to raise awareness so thoughtfully and constructively.
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@sarah_lea12Due to time pressure to present and balance the budget, they chose to scapegoat disabled and vulnerable people by targeting money that is rightfully deserved. In doing so, they rushed to create a flawed proposal and a questionable consultation process.
This proposal is fundamentally flawed from the outset, and we must oppose it. Shockingly, they haven’t even taken the time or care to conduct a proper impact analysis—one that should consider, among other things, the real scarcity of suitable jobs.
I strongly believe these proposals can be stopped—but only if we all stand together and oppose them by responding directly to the consultation. We cannot afford to stay silent or wait for someone else to speak up. The time to act is now.
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I really feel someone needs to start a petition to stop the unlawful abolishment of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
What do others think?
I was absolutely fuming when I read this bolded sentence in the Pathways to Work green paper proposal:
“Tackling this broken welfare system makes moral sense. It is common sense too.”
How can stripping vital support from disabled people and carers be considered moral or common sense?
Would love to hear your thoughts - and if others would support a petition on this.0 -
Did anyone know about this inquiry?
Government’s welfare reform proposals subject of new Committee inquiry
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Reeves looks knackered not very good under pressure they need to sack thier coach error ummm err mmmuum oh mummy 😀
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I emailed baromess hughes and sir marmot anyone else good to email ?
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I've emailed baroness and sir marmot
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I cant watch her she makes me more on edge
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Ah yh so obvious thier probley bring sooty and sweep to take centre stage ! Or bill and Ben or dumb and dumber the list of possibilities 🙄
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Hes like a awkward giraffe
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Well doctors won't be giving fit notes we'd have to see thier consultants
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Be like spike milligan write on my grave I told you I was unwell not that DWP would care I cannot believe they do not have a duty of care !!!
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I'm 53 and I was wishing I was close to retirement age and even wondering will there be a state pension in 10 years
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What part is that it's going to be horrendous when esa gone I really don't think it will be watered down either tories said they will vote this In thier all in it together drinks after snorting laughter from the bar off with thier heads who else is there to email only one who got back to me was autistic charity apparently I think
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No not at all I write as I'm speaking took 20 years for my daughter to understand your one tough cookie I admire your strenght x
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Is this consultation doe so many
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