Response from my MP in regards to Benefit cuts

sparrow77
sparrow77 Online Community Member Posts: 61 Empowering
edited April 8 in Current affairs

I emailed my MP several times (she is labour ) and finally got a response which was as follows. ...

Thank you for your email in which you raise concerns over the proposed changes to disability welfare. As you may be aware the government will soon outline its plans to reform this system in detail, following the statement by the Secretary of State on the 18th of March 2025.

May I also take this opportunity to thank you for sharing your own experiences with disability and your entitlement to PIP. I would like to assure you that your personal experiences and stories are truly appreciated, and I will bear these in mind in my discussions with Ministers over the coming weeks.

After the previous government’s approach to benefits, I understand why people may be anxious about any proposed changes. And while I support reform of our welfare system, I was also concerned following reporting in the press of what the changes may entail.

With this in mind, I have raised the concerns that have been highlighted to me directly with Ministers and have sought clarity that the welfare system, which is designed to protect those that need it the most, will continue to do so.

Following these conversations I have also been given assurances that central to this process will be the voices of disabled people. I am aware that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already begun engaging with disabled people and representative organisations to shape these reforms. Once these proposals are published, there will be a formal consultation to gather further input.

I want to see a social security system that gets decisions right the first time, treats people with dignity and focuses on what people can do and not just what they cannot. Too often, disabled people face unnecessary barriers to employment or are left without the right support. This culture has to change and it is imperative that businesses also create inclusive environments, promoting recruitment and retention.

I would also like to be clear: I categorically do not support any penalisation of individuals who, for whatever reason, cannot work. Furthermore, those who receive support such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP) must be supported through any proposed changes to policy and we need to ensure there are not unintended consequences. For instance, I have witnessed firsthand that without the necessary financial support, there are those who would not be able to continue to work or manage the significantly high costs associated with their conditions.

However, I firmly believe that these two principles are not in conflict. This government has a duty to ensure a system whereby those who can work and wish to do so are properly supported in pursuing employment without fear of reprisal. Alongside this, those who are unable to enter employment must be afforded the comprehensive protections and support that enable them to live independent and fulfilling lives. An effective welfare system recognises this distinction and provides appropriate pathways for both situations.

As it stands, the Work Capability Assessment fails both groups and creates false binaries. In doing so it leaves people without adequate support tailored to individuals to support them into employment. It pushes people into one of two boxes: fit for work or unfit for work. It removes the true nuance of individual circumstances, in a situation where nuance is most needed.

The Welfare State must enable disabled people to live as independently as possible. The data shows that that currently 2 million people have Limited Capability for Work Related Activity, a number which has quadrupled since the pandemic. What concerns me most is that 160,000 of these individuals are young people between the ages of 16-24 who find themselves in this difficult situation, in a system that does not provide them tailored support to explore opportunities and are consequently locked out of work indefinitely. Reform is needed to ensure a system that is trusted by its users, simpler to navigate and empowers those who find themselves in it.

I am therefore pleased that the Government’s approach includes:

The commitment to scrap the Work Capability Assessment system entirely

Ensuring those who will never be able to work are not put through the indignity of constant reassessments

Introducing a "right to try" which guarantees that work will never lead to someone being called for a reassessment

An £800 million investment in disability employment support announced in the Autumn budget

The deployment of 1,000 work coaches to provide tailored support to those facing barriers to employment

An additional £1 billion per year investment in the new "Pathways to Work" programme

The proposal for an additional premium for those with the most severe, life-long health conditions who will never be able to work

I am assured that these changes will work in tandem with this Government’s aims of reducing poverty for disabled people, promoting independence and helping everybody reach their full potential. However, I will continue to monitor the Government’s plans and ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard throughout.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Naushabah Khan MP

🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Seems like a pre made response probably made out to several people and doesn't really fill me with much hope ,but thought I'd share

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