Contact your MP about proposed changes to disability benefits and Universal Credit
Last week the UK Government announced major proposals to change the benefit system which risk making many blind and partially sighted people worse off by hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds each year.
We should stress that now these are just proposed changes and won’t be implemented until at least November 2026.
The proposals include tougher criteria to be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and changes to the rates of the health element of Universal Credit (UC). You can read RNIB’s full analysis of the proposals in this news item:
Although it is unclear how the proposals will fully impact on people in Scotland, there are some concerns. For example, Holyrood has some powers over welfare and employment support. PIP is already being replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP) for people living in Scotland.
If proposals go ahead, qualification thresholds for disability benefits available in different parts of the UK, will diverge. In practice, this may result in blind and partially sighted people in England and Wales missing out on payments, which their Scottish counterparts may be entitled to.
However, cuts in England and Wales could also have serious consequences for equivalent benefits in Scotland via the Barnett Formula. The Scottish Government receives funding which, broadly speaking, should meet the costs of a directly equivalent benefit in Scotland. If spending on PIP falls outside Scotland, the amount of funding provided to the Scottish Government through the block grant adjustment (BGA) falls by a similar proportion.
We’re very worried about the impact these changes could have on blind and partially sighted people if they go ahead. The consequences could be devastating. Life simply costs more if you have a visual impairment and Benefits like PIP provide vital support for the extra costs that come with having a disability.
If you receive benefits related to your sight loss, or you don’t but share our concern about the proposals, please write to your MP using our simple form.
If you require any support with filling out the form, please email [email protected] or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Many thanks for your support.
