Concerns Raised Over Impact of PIP Review on Disabled People and Carers

A coalition of local charities and support organisations has reconvened in St Neots to discuss concerns about the Government’s ongoing review into Personal Independence Payments (PIP), warning that it is leaving many people “in fear and limbo”.

The group met on Friday 11 July at the Citizen Hub in St Neots, with representatives from more than a dozen organisations including Disability Huntingdonshire, Citizens Advice, Carers UK, and Switch Now. The meeting followed the Government’s announcement earlier this year of a planned overhaul of the welfare system, including a major review of PIP assessments expected to run until autumn 2026.

PIP is a non-means-tested benefit designed to support people with long-term health conditions or disabilities with everyday activities and mobility. Concerns were raised at the meeting that uncertainty around the outcome of the review is already having a real impact on people’s wellbeing and financial security.

One young person supported by local training provider Switch Now said that the fear of losing his PIP is affecting his ability to live independently. Staff echoed those concerns, explaining that potential changes to benefit eligibility could significantly reduce the opportunities available for vulnerable individuals trying to find work and stability.

While some welcomed the decision to remove certain planned changes to PIP eligibility from the original bill, significant worries remain about the potential outcomes of the ongoing review — including how it will affect those with fluctuating conditions such as multiple sclerosis or arthritis, and how it could alter access to other linked benefits like Carer’s Allowance.

There was also criticism of proposed reforms to Universal Credit’s health element, which could lead to a two-tier system where people with identical health conditions are treated differently depending on when they apply.

Organisations at the forum called for disabled people and the charities who support them to be meaningfully included in the assessment review process. They stressed the importance of co-producing any changes to ensure future policies are informed by those with lived experience.

Local MP Ian Sollom, who attended the meeting and originally convened the coalition in April, said he would take the feedback to Westminster and continue to work with colleagues during the parliamentary recess.

The group will continue to meet as the review progresses, aiming to share local experiences with policymakers and ensure vulnerable people are not left behind.