- the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
Earlier this year (18 March 2025) the government published plans to reform disability benefits in a Green Paper. These changes include cuts to disability benefits and the tightening of eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit's health element. We know this will be worrying if you rely on these benefits but the first thing to note is that none of these changes are happening right away. However, these are the biggest cuts to disability benefits on record and will have a huge impact on disabled people’s living standards and independence.
We are deeply concerned by the government’s plans and since they published them we’ve been working hard on our response at a local and national level. The cuts proposed will look to slash disability and incapacity benefits by £6.4 billion per year by 2029/30.
The three proposed changes we are most concerned about are:
- The tightening of PIP eligibility
- Cuts to UC health element
- Using PIP daily living as the sole gateway to UC health.
We are clear that none of what the government is proposing can be done without pushing disabled people, those with long term health conditions and their children into poverty. The government's own assessment shows us this. That’s why we’re calling on the government to cancel the proposed cuts to disability benefits.
In opposing these cuts Citizens Advice has co-signed a letter with other disability charities encouraging the government to rethink. We’ve also published reports and essays challenging some of the arguments used to justify likely cuts; and people from across the Citizens Advice network have spoken to local, regional and national media, including the BBC, Sky and the Guardian to voice our concerns. In addition, we’ve written to all six local MPs who represent Wiltshire UA residents to discuss the proposed changes, and the issues these pose. And as a network we’ve also come together to share insight and evidence to shape our response to the measures proposed in the Green Paper.
Our asks of the government
The government must reconsider its current approach. We are calling on the government to cancel proposed cuts to disability benefits. More immediately, we’re asking the government to:
- Reverse the decision not to consult on cuts to disability benefits.
- Delay parliamentary votes on disability benefit cuts until all relevant impact assessments have been published. This should include the impact on other public services and the voluntary sector, and estimated employment outcomes from measures proposed in the green paper.
What next
We're meeting with some local MPs over the next few weeks, and we will continue to voice our opposition to these cuts.
We will keep this page regularly updated with news about our campaign action to reverse these cuts, so please check regularly.
If you need advice about benefits, including PIP and UC, or anything else please go to our get advice page for all the ways you can get in touch and our contact details.
Published 2 June 2025.