The cost of cuts

On Wednesday 18 March 2025, the government announced planned changes to disability benefits. Which would have seen billions being stripped from disability benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit (UC).  For millions of disabled people, these benefits are a lifeline. They are the difference between surviving and being pushed deeper into poverty.

The plans to cut disability benefits would have been a catastrophe for disabled people’s living standards and independence. And would have affected 3.2 billion disabled families and plunged 250,000 people into poverty.

Life costs a lot more when you’re disabled. Thousands of pounds for a wheelchair or home adaptations. Sky high energy bills because without enough heating you’re in constant agony. 

Needing more financial support is not a choice. Disabled people often live in pain and in fear of losing vital support. 

After years of rising prices, many disabled people were already on the brink. Cutting disability benefits would have dealt another catastrophic blow to disabled people’s lives.  

So we took action. We launched Scope’s Cost of Cuts campaign to protect disabled people and their families from the worst proposed cuts on record. 

Over 100,000 of you backed our campaign to prevent catastrophic cuts to disability benefits. And it worked. Together, we pushed the Government to drop plans to slash access to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit, preventing over 200,000 disabled people from falling into poverty. And we ensured plans to change PIP assessments and make cuts to PIP were paused.

Thank you to everyone who added their voice. Over 100,000 people stood with us to say these cuts must not go ahead. And we took this message straight to 10 Downing Street on 16 June 2025. We delivered our 100,000 strong petition together with disabled storytellers Layla, Myles and Rachel. We also delivered a clear message to Government. Cutting benefits would plunge hundreds of thousands into poverty. It would have a devastating effect on disabled people’s health, ability to live independently or work. We made sure the government took notice and changed course.

We will continue to influence the Government to ensure changes to disability benefits are coproduced with disabled people, as part of the upcoming Timm’s Review.

Together, we’re a force to be reckoned with. Join our campaigns network to find out more about how to get involved with future campaigns.