Labour is leaving millions of claimants in a state of anxiety as it reveals that it is looking at the responses to the Conservative’s green paper on PIP which suggested, amongst other things, the possibility of paying the benefit as vouchers rather than cash.

The Conservatives published a Green Paper on the future of PIP in April 2024.  Amongst the proposals were suggestions that instead of regular cash payments, PIP could be replaced with:

  • A catalogue/shop scheme
  • A voucher scheme
  • A receipt based system
  • One-off grants

The consultation period for the Green Paper ended on 22 July and we know that many of our readers took part and are desperate to know the outcome.

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Thomas of Winchester tabled a question for the DWP in the House of Lords:

“To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to change the personal independence payment assessment.”

Yesterday, the answer came from Baroness Sherlock, the DWP minister in the House of Lords:

“We will be engaging with the responses people have made to the previous government's consultation on Personal Independence Payment, which closed on Monday 22 July.

“We want to thank the many people who invested their time in responding.

“We will be considering our own approach to social security in due course.”

The response by Baroness Sherlock makes it seem unlikely that there will be any official statement on PIP changes before the parliamentary summer recess, which lasts from 30 July until 2 September.

However, the House of Commons goes into recess again for the party conference season from 13 September until 6 October.

So, there is a real possibility that PIP claimants will be left without any news for several months.

Written questions by MPs to the secretary of state about the PIP consultation and about WCA changes have yet to receive answers.  We suspect that any responses will simply be stalling ones, but we’ll keep readers posted if we learn anything more.

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 days ago
    Time for this government to go!!! They should be ashamed to call themselves a Labour party, Gear Starmer couldn't ever define a.workIng man 
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    · 9 days ago
    labour paying vowchers instead of cash how stupid i won't be voting labour ever again its 
    one of the most stupid things if i ever heard of stop the stupid vowchers 
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    · 10 days ago
    Pip money is to live on as UC alone isn't enough if unable to work they need to get in real world any MP is a joker regardless of party they don't live in working class world

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    · 17 days ago
    Another way of the labour government clawing back cash, they  are hitting the poor and needy again because they have no other way of pulling in cash.
    Disabled the poorly pensioners and people living on the bread line are being targeted despite labour promises of fair play.
    Con artists all of them.
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      · 10 days ago
      @Martin Yes, and saying they will go after the ones with the broadest shoulders, What monsters are these people?
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      · 10 days ago
      @Martin Looking like vouchers then.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 21 days ago
    I am housebound and I have to buy everything online, vouchers won’t be any use to me.

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    · 22 days ago
    Vouchers are horrible and degrading,I have problems using public transport even though I have a pass,trying to deal with a packed bus or tram with mobility problems is a nightmare.How will I pay for a taxi?Its not just the dwp that treat the sick and disabled bad,I'm trying to get a move to a ground floor flat but nearly all social housing in my area says must be in work,more discrimination.I've wrote to my Labour mp without response and have now wrote to minister for housing awaiting a reply.We should maybe start a class action about how we are really treated.
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    · 23 days ago
    should be fine with people carrying out pip reviews who know absolutely nothing  about your condition great that is one great way to start  
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    · 25 days ago
    Here is a thought. End discrimination and pay everyone with vouchers.  Civil Servants, NHS and the lorded  MP should all be paid with vouchers. That way they can control what you do and when.  Where is people's pension money they've paid in for years. Hoping people will die b4 they have to pay it out- I really thought this was a fresh start, but it's started with secrecy and bullying the vulnerable in society. They must feel so proud.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 25 days ago
    Well perhaps they need to make PIP a voucher scheme so MPs could afford nice clothes. Of course, they have to get money from somewhere, to raise their pay. Kick the vulnerable, because they can't fight back. They are only widening the divide and stigmatising people further. Mostly people with mental, learning disabilities and chronic illnesses with be using vouchers. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 months ago
    Just what do they have planned for the Disabled and Vulnerable

    It seems simple right but one of the most tragic and reckless decisions during the pandemic was the release of elderly patients into care homes without proper testing or isolation. This led to widespread COVID-19 outbreaks, causing countless preventable deaths and clearly showing the then government’s inability to protect the most vulnerable. Given this kind of track record, how can we trust any politician, regardless of flavour, to handle any reform to the PIP process fairly? It's disabled people across the UK who will continue to bear the brunt. Labour is no better than the Tories and I strongly suspect they'll be just as incompetent. In fact, I’m convinced that both Starmer and especially Reeves have a few screws loose—Reeves is a complete basket case in my view and not up to the job. It might sound silly but why not have the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities carry out the review? I wonder…

    They expect us to believe that in an economy worth £2.27 trillion, the sixth largest in the world, the best way to balance the books is by taking back £1 to £1.5 billion from pensioners? To the government, that amount might seem like nothing but for those who rely on it, it means everything. It certainly won’t save the country, nor will further vilifying disabled people. This just proves again that those in power are more interested in cutting corners at the expense of the vulnerable, rather than making any real difference where it’s needed.

    The PIP system has long been criticised for being excessively intrusive, requiring claimants to disclose deeply personal details about their health and their struggles. These details are often scrutinised by assessors who seem barely fit to boil a kettle, let alone understanding the nuances of someone’s condition and how it affects their life. After that, it’s passed on to so-called health professionals who may lack the relevant expertise, ignore your evidence or skim through it without proper consideration—and at worst, might simply dismiss the claim outright or even lie to deny support. Instead of offering genuine help, the process feels designed to withhold assistance from those who need it most.

    The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the UK’s treatment of disabled people. In 2016, the UN’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) launched an inquiry, concluding in 2017 that the UK government had committed “grave and systematic violations” of disabled people’s rights, particularly through austerity measures and welfare reforms like the changes to PIP. The report criticised how these policies disproportionately affected disabled individuals, leaving many in financial hardship and struggling to live independently. Labour is no different to the Tories and will, I suspect, be equally incompetent and I believe there’s more austerity coming our way.

    Despite these warnings from the UN, the situation has worsened in recent years. Disabled people continue to be marginalised, with lengthy waiting times for benefits and a PIP process that often feels designed to fail claimants rather than support them. While Labour leadership might have brought hope to some, many remain sceptical that positive change will come. Critics argue that both major political parties have consistently failed to address the needs of disabled people. With no signs of change, there is little hope that the system will improve for the better. Many fear that instead of easing the struggles faced by claimants, the current PIP process, already seen as intrusive and overly focused on denying support, will either stay the same or become even more restrictive. Disabled individuals are left navigating a system that seems designed to scrutinise and disqualify them, rather than offering the help they need. As new austerity measures inevitably begin, the situation is expected to worsen, further marginalising those most in need.

    The fear is that this ‘new’ government will continue to overlook the needs of the disabled, using reforms to cut costs rather than provide necessary support. The PIP system, which has always been problematic, may become even more challenging for those who rely on it, adding to the distress of already vulnerable individuals.

    As the UN and human rights groups have highlighted, this erosion of support reflects a broader failure of the UK government to uphold its commitments to disabled people under international law. The question remains: can we trust this government to have handled the pandemic differently from the Tories and do they have any desire to improve the lot of the disabled in the UK, or will they continue to prioritise austerity and bureaucracy over genuine care and compassion?
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    · 1 months ago
    A New Government Appears Even Worse Than the Preceding One: How the Disabled and Vulnerable Are Not Suffering Enough

    Another change in government from blue to red, yet this shift in colour appears to be the only difference. Any hopes of improvement were not based on promises of reform but more on an assumption—perhaps a desperate hope—that being a Labour government, they would show some compassion towards the unfortunate after 14 years of Tory rule. However, this hope is slowly, piece by piece, being whittled away.

    Rather than offering even a slight reprieve, this new government seems intent on intensifying the hardships already faced by the disabled and other vulnerable groups. While the previous leadership was known for its harsh and uncaring policies, the current regime appears even more detached and indifferent, seemingly with plans to accelerating the erosion of support for those in need.

    For years, austerity measures and relentless cuts to essential services have chipped away at the foundations that once provided security for the disabled and disadvantaged. Yet instead of addressing these long-standing issues, the new government seems to have chosen to continue down the same destructive path. Their approach conveys the message that those who are struggling have not suffered enough and should endure even more.

    The disabled, in particular, are being vilified through rhetoric that portrays them as burdens, undeserving of the very support they rely on to live with dignity. Instead of increasing access to crucial assistance, the government is tightening the screws, making it increasingly difficult for people to receive help. Benefits assessments have become harsher and the safety net many rely on is becoming riddled with even bigger holes.

    Public services, already under immense strain, are continuing to deteriorate. Promises of investment in the NHS, past and present, social care and community services all ring hollow, with little evidence that anything meaningful is being done. Waiting lists are growing longer, access to critical services is becoming more difficult and the quality of care is in decline. The disabled and those who depend on these services are being left to fend for themselves in an increasingly hostile system.

    Worse still, this government has deliberately created an atmosphere of confusion and uncertainty. Clear communication is lacking and people are being left to speculate about their future. This creation of a vacuum allows fear and misinformation to flourish, keeping the public anxious and divided. Added to this is the right-wing press, having a field day with their relentless attacks on the disabled. It seems that the more disoriented people are, the less likely they are to organise and challenge what we suspect will be regressive strategies.

    Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this government is the complete lack of accountability. Time and time again, ministers make bold statements about getting disabled people back to work, despite these individuals having already been through the PIP sausage machine, one of the toughest processes on the planet. These people are undoubtedly sick and disabled, yet the government backtracks when it suits them. While ministers remain insulated from the consequences of their actions, the public, particularly the disabled and vulnerable, are forced to endure the fallout. Broken promises, disregard for the real-life struggles of ordinary people, and the ever-growing divide between those in power and the rest of society have left many feeling abandoned.

    This government, far from being a force for change, is simply a continuation of the failures of the last but with even more apparent ruthlessness. By eroding support systems, vilifying the vulnerable and fostering an environment of fear and confusion, they have ensured that the most vulnerable are left in an even more precarious position.

    For those who once hoped for something better, the disappointment is bitter. Instead of the positive change they rightly expected, they are faced with deeper cuts, more suffering and a government that seems increasingly detached from the realities faced by ordinary people. The disabled, the elderly and the disadvantaged are being pushed further to the margins, forgotten in a country that no longer seems to value compassion or care for its own people.

    This government is failing in its most basic duty: to protect and support those who cannot fend for themselves. Instead, it appears likely to pursue policies that inflict more pain and deepen the divide between the powerful and the powerless. Until this government is made accountable for its actions, the disabled and vulnerable will continue to suffer in a system that has all but abandoned them.

    Meanwhile, we wait for Rachel Reeves to return from the dance floor with trepidation, ready to do the dirty on 30th October.
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    · 1 months ago
    I feel suicidal being constantly bombarded about being forced into work, Pip being taken away. I am so scared. I have bi polar, OCD, CPTSD and have just been diagnosed with Dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, bilateral valve disorder and Atrial Fibrillation. I won't live to pension age so the 30 years I paid in, they get to keep. Why do they have to torture me with the couple if years I have left. I am raising 2 teens on my own and my money goes on necessities not holidays and hot tubs. 
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      · 8 days ago
      @SCD I feel for you that's terrible xxx
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      · 1 months ago
      @SCD Bless you. Please speak to citizens advice and see what help is available such as grants and charitable support.
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      · 1 months ago
      @SCD I feel same hun and it's scary, they should be fair by starting new claims on new ways as were use to this help,Its fairer to start with those who are new claims from next year ,lm nearly pension age and have fulltime carer lm so frightened and sick with worry about this idiots in conservative's thought of,Disabled should never be targeted  in any way take care take each day as it comes but guess theirs thousands thinking it's only way out atm but stay strong for your children, mine are grown up now, lve no life anyway only get out 4/5times a year,been out 3 times this year only for Stock up on personal things xx
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    · 1 months ago
    As there is also the Motability Scheme Question will this be Abolished as a pensioner On a very small Occupational pension my winter fuel allowance is no more and if this mad Voucher System would be a disaster for many as Catalogues for disability Equipment are already provided by my local county council adult care service.   
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      · 13 days ago
      @Fizzy Feet My assessor lied about my assessment,  she said I wasn't wearing my hearing aid when I was , she lied about my mobility  . The assessors  work for an agency , they are not there to help you , they are paid by the government  to save them money  . My assesor  awarded me zero point , I appealed it , her boss again awarded me zero points , I took it to the tribunal  and won . I advise everybody to go to the tribuneral  . The assessors will try everything to put you off don't let them . Don't forget you get paid from when they receive your claim
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      · 27 days ago
      @tinytim They took my car away (I had had a Motability car for over 15 years) when DLA changed to PIP because I have Multiple Sclerosis (for 34 years now). I am a pensioner now so will never get my car back. I fall over frequently because I have a dropped left foot. My MS won’t go away either. The assessor lied and said she had looked at my legs and hips while I was on a bed. I never went on any bed and kept my long to my calves duvet coat zipped up the entire time. She never even saw my legs let alone my hips. They simply lie!!!
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    · 1 months ago
    I was surprisingly awarded PIP for lifetime. Mine is like many far from straight forward my additional expenses revolve around extra water usage ( I am not on any benefit that entitles me to a water  bill reduction) the need to provide an additional bathroom and cleaning.
    I have absolutely no idea how this will play out but it’s going to be pain for some.

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    · 1 months ago
    Pip entitles you to free bus pass, blue badge and disabled person railcard, which I need due my learning disabilities and the money to get to appointments because I don't drive. It also pays my rent and food. 
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      · 1 months ago
      @Anonymous Not every pip award entitles you to a free bus pass.
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      · 1 months ago
      @Anonymous My pip certainly didn’t qualify me for a bus pass or a blue badge. Of course some qualified by virtue of mobility issues 
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    · 1 months ago
    Let’s all hope they scrap it we need pip money as if we go voucher I will not be able to get to hospital appointments at all  pip pays for my  taxi to hospital and home asi. Can not follow a simple rut due to learning disability 
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    · 1 months ago
    Part of my disability is caused by my eating disorder. Are these vouchers going to cover food costs? If not I will not be able to buy food, meaning my eating disorder and therefore my disability will worsen. I can't drive, will the vouchers cover public transport? If not, I will be unable to attend therapy and other healthcare appointments. 
    It should be my right to make my OWN decisions on what I need to spend my disability payments on. I shouldn't be given options on what to spend it on, and I shouldn't have to show anyone reciepts like a child proving they didn't spend their mum's change on a toy. Disabilities are not one off, so they payments shouldn't be either. 

    Sick of our government treating us like children. This is so discriminatory. If I COULD work, I absolutely would. I'd rather be working than stuck in my house feeling like crap 24/7. 
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    · 1 months ago
    Absolutely repulsive proposals. The tax breaks they give big business and the deals MPs have with private companies that are to do with private masonic handshakes are vile.
    This is a rich country and the disabled are not draining anything from anywhere. 
    Maybe start with the elite business bankers etc before you come after the vulnerable.
    We are NOT TO BLAME and there's more than enough money in the pot of this rich country to treat the vulnerable with dignity!
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    · 1 months ago
    Would I be correct in saying that treating disabled people differently than able bodied people would be illegal? One of the government’s own laws was made so that disabled people would not be discriminated against. Yet that’s EXACTLY what the government would be doing by stopping cash payments only for the disabled and not other benefit claimants. Test case would have to be brought to the courts. I think it could cost millions more. 
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      · 17 days ago
      @Cheryl It shouldn’t matter what we need the cash for, it’s called Personal INDEPENDENCE payment…why do they think they have the right to take away the independence? The choice and the right to decide for ourselves?!  
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      · 1 months ago
      @Cheryl So where we all meeting ?,,,I so feed up of our Government stepping on the all ready down and outs.

      I wish i did have the luxuryto say its hard JUMPING THOUGH THESE BENEFITS HOPS "I think i will go back to work"....

      But ive FND ,fibromyalgia spinal degeneration..and siezures brought on by stress AND this forced move to UC and now a chase they will stop cash payments to Pip...This government will have more blood on its hands. It already killed god knows now many in covid and now this..

      I just hope that we the Disabled do raise our army. I Hope I will able to get out of bed .but the..chases are it won't be a good day and I will miss the war due to disability . ive forgotten what it is to not be in physical or mental pain.
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      · 1 months ago
      @Pickle2507 We need to all get out in our wheelchairs and make a noise
      Not let them take our cash whst if we need money in hospital stays
      And getting to appointments in taxis how we gonna pay...
      It's gonna be so degrading and ppl will be topping themselves including me
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    · 1 months ago
    I hate to say it but I think those with more severe issues will be less affected than those without, and those with more paperwork supporting their claims will find it easier. I have been trapped in a cycle for 20 years of being told I am unfit for work one minute, then fit for work the next. Every job I've had hasn't worked out, and not from the lack of trying either. 

    Having just been diagnosed with Complex PTSD, in addition to personality disorder, autism, adhd and other conditions, I know I'm not well enough to work, but will that stop them trying to force me into work? I doubt it based on experience. 

    The only difference is I have mental health professionals behind me now who have no doubt that I am unable to work, and doing so would carry more of a risk to my own mental health and wellbeing and potentially to that of others, as I have uncontrollable outbursts due to my PTSD. 


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      · 1 months ago
      @Ben T Everyone on pip will have money only voucher will be useless  I can’t work I can’t go out on my own I can’t follow rites