Our Response to U.K. Government Benefits Announcement

Following the recent announcement from the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall regarding proposed plans to reform disability benefits, including significant changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit as well as other benefits. Burning Nights CRPS Support charity is deeply concerned and very disappointed about how these proposed changes could impact the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) community.

The proposed reforms, ''Pathways to Work Green Paper', aimed at cutting welfare spending by £5 billion a year, include stricter eligibility criteria for PIP and changes to the way incapacity benefits are assessed.

We recognise the need for a sustainable benefits system that effectively supports disabled people to live independent and fulfilling lives. However, we are seriously concerned about the potential impact these changes could have on people living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and other chronic pain conditions.

CRPS is a debilitating condition that can severely affect mobility, daily functioning, and quality of life. Many of the CRPS community rely on PIP and other benefits to access essential support, including mobility aids, home adaptations, and care. Any tightening of eligibility criteria does risk leaving some of the most vulnerable people without the support they need to manage their condition and maintain their independence.

We believe that the government must uphold its manifesto commitment and support the rights of disabled people by collaborating with them to improve the system, rather than working against them. That’s why we’ve joined others in signing Scope’s open letter, urging the Chancellor to reconsider cuts to these vital benefits.

We support positive reform of the benefits system, but we cannot accept that making large cuts like these are the solution.

Victoria Abbott-Fleming MBE, Burning Nights CRPS Support's CEO says:

"We recognise that people living with CRPS rely on their benefit payments to cover essential living costs, such as travelling to vital medical appointments, or buying medical equipment and products. Taking away this financial lifeline would have a devastating impact on both their physical and mental well-being. We urge the Government to rethink its approach and ensure that those with complex conditions like CRPS receive the support they need.”

So what are the benefits that are mainly being affected and what are they for?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both: a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition.

PIP can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits. This is what is called non means tested.

There are two elements - a daily living component and a mobility component. Claimants may be eligible for one or both.

PIP assessments involve questions about tasks like preparing and eating food, washing and getting dressed. Each is scored on a scale from zero - for no difficulty - to 12 - for the most severe - by a health professional.

For example, needing an aid or appliance to speak or hear counts as two points, while needing support to express or understand complex verbal information counts as four points.

Currently, claimants need to score a minimum of eight points across multiple activities to reach the threshold for support.

The changes to PIP are as follows:

• Only those who score a minimum of 4 points in at least one daily living activity will be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This requirement would need to be met in addition to the existing PIP eligibility criteria
• Those with the most severe, long-term conditions would no longer face any reassessment to claim PIP
• New claimants will have their cases assessed based on specific individual needs from 2026.
• Assessments will be now recorded to "establish trust" as part of an overhaul of the assessment system
• Mobility Component stays the same

Universal Credit is a payment for people under State Pension age and on a low income or out of work.

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, meaning your household income and savings are considered when determining eligibility and the amount you receive, with a savings limit of £16,000. It includes support for the cost of housing, children and childcare, and financial support for people with disabilities, carers and people too ill to work.

Universal Credit has replaced these benefits for most people:

• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Support

You'll usually get one monthly payment to cover your living costs.

If you claim Universal Credit as a couple, you and your partner will get one payment between the 2 of you. The payment is made up of a basic 'standard allowance' and extra payments that might apply to you depending on your circumstances. You might be able to get extra payments if you, look after one or more children, work and pay for childcare, need help with housing costs, are disabled or have a health condition, are a carer for a disabled person or you have a disabled child.

• Freezing and scrapping Limited Capability for work related activity (LCWRA) payments - From this year, new claimants will also receive a reduced rate of LCWRA payment, falling from the current £97 a week to £50 p/w by 2026-27
• Raising the basic rate of Universal Credit - The basic rate of universal credit will actually be increased from April 2026 by £7 per week, rising from £91 per week in 2024/2025 to £98 per week in 2026/2027.
• Scrapping the work capability assessment - Instead, claimants will have to go through the PIP system to claim for a health benefit. The government says people will be assessed on how their disability affects their daily life, rather than on their capacity to work.
• Under-22s excluded from claiming Universal Credit support under limited capability for work-related activity - Claimants will not be eligible to get the incapacity top-up until they are aged 22 or over.
• Universal credit claimants with the most severe disabilities will never be reassessed - Claimants with severe, lifelong disabilities who have no prospect of improvement and will never be able to work will not face any reassessment.
• A "right to try" guarantee for those who want to try returning to work without risking their benefits - A new “right to try” work guarantee designed to allow people to enter the workforce without fear that their health benefit top-ups will be at risk if they are unable to hold down a job.

In the Pathway to Work Green Paper, the Government have said that they won't consulting on these plans - to scrap the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and use the single Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment to assess entitlement for the Universal Credit (UC) health element. These will be delivered by primary legislation.

These proposals would significantly change access to disability benefits for many disabled people. The new PIP eligibility criteria will make it much harder to qualify, which could also make the assessment process more stressful.

Getting rid of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) means that disabled people will only need to go through the PIP assessment for disability benefits. While having fewer assessments might reduce stress, it also means that qualifying for PIP is the only way to receive the health element of Universal Credit. With tighter PIP eligibility, many disabled people could struggle to access any disability benefits at all.

Young disabled people aged 18 to 21 will be among those most affected. Many in this age group who do not qualify for PIP may be left without any health-related benefits. Additionally, most young disabled Universal Credit claimants aged 18 to 21 will be required to look for work until they turn 22.

There are still many details about these changes that remain unclear. The Government has yet to publish an Impact Assessment, which will provide more insight into how disabled people could be affected.

We understand that these changes will be a worry to many of you. But cuts to disability benefits can be stopped or altered—but only if we speak up. Your voice matters. Stand with us and take action now to protect this vital lifeline. There are a couple of ways you can get involved:

• Contact your MP and tell them your story and why your disability benefits are crucial to you
• Respond to the consultation by 30th June 2025
• Share your story with us about why your benefits are a lifeline to you

If you are needing support for your benefits applications or appeals, we do suggest you contact your local Citizens Advice or nearb6 Law Centre for help. As part of the Burning Nights CRPS Support charity's Membership Scheme, those of you who are U.K. members will also have access to the Benefits and Work guides. Please contact us to access those guides, please include your membership number in the email.

You can also share your thoughts and talk to people in similar situations to you on our online community.

If these changes are affecting your mental health, we encourage you to speak to your GP or reach out to support services like Mind or the Samaritans. You can also register for our Counselling Service as well. Please note we do have a waiting list, but you will be assessed and triaged quickly. Our website also offers information and support on managing your mental health. Visit our mental health support page for guidance or search in our blog/news articles for 'mental health' topic.