Disabled people attending a Timms Review workshop for South Wales say they used the event to challenge possible changes to disability benefits for younger claimants.
The workshop was held online after local protests about proposed benefit changes and concerns over how disabled people were being involved in the review, according to participants. Attendees said they called an indicative vote on a recommendation that support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) should work for people of every age and background.
The recommendation was approved unanimously by those taking part in the vote, campaigners said. It stated that:
“The PIP process must work for you, whatever age you are, whatever condition or impairment you might have, whatever class you are, whatever ethnicity you are, whatever your circumstances.”
The debate follows proposals in the UK Government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper to consider delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until age 22 and raising the age at which young people begin claiming PIP. These were consultation proposals, rather than changes that have been implemented. The Timms Review is examining how PIP could be made fairer and more accessible. [1, 2]
Ben Golightly, from Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), attended the workshop. He said:
“Instead of just reacting in fear and anger to what is being done to us, it was really important that disabled people took control and issued a positive message of defiance.
“We affirmed that disabled people in South Wales reject divide-and-rule. If the Government picks this fight with young disabled people, they will lose. Again. We won’t leave anybody behind: an injury to one is an injury to all.”
Mike O’Brien, of Welsh unpaid carers’ organisation VOICES ADFOCAD, said participants in his breakout group also opposed any suggestion that claimants should give up part of their PIP award in return for services.
“Participants in my workshop breakout group were unanimous in opposing proposals that would require disabled people to sacrifice part of their cash benefit entitlement in exchange for services that are already difficult to access.
“And we firmly rejected suggestions that recipients should surrender a proportion of their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award in order to fund or improve services.”
The campaigners’ vote is an expression of the workshop participants’ views, not a formal decision by the review or the Department for Work and Pensions. The review’s published terms say its recommendations will be reported to the Work and Pensions Secretary, with the Government responsible for deciding whether to make any changes. [2]