**Concerns Mount Over Universal Credit Cuts Affecting Disabled Claimants with Serious Health Conditions**
Charities, MPs and campaigners are raising the alarm over proposed changes to Universal Credit that could leave thousands of disabled people facing substantial reductions in their welfare payments. The government has signalled its intention to overhaul the benefits system, a move that is prompting fears of significant financial hardship among those with serious and enduring health conditions.
Although a recent government Bill to cut welfare spending was softened in response to pushback from MPs, critics maintain that some of the UK’s most vulnerable individuals – including those with degenerative or fluctuating illnesses – are still at risk of losing out. Among the conditions highlighted are Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and a range of serious mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Central to the controversy are proposed reforms to the ‘health component’ of Universal Credit – a top-up currently worth roughly £3,000 per year for claimants who cannot work due to a disability or long-term illness. Campaigners warn that alterations to the criteria for this additional support could result in many disabled people losing out, creating what some describe as a “two-tier system”.
Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, has voiced concern about the fairness of the reforms. “The Bill creates a system where people with the same medical condition could be treated completely differently, simply because of when or how they are assessed,” he said. He, alongside others, is calling for benefits cuts to be put on hold until a thorough, independent impact assessment is carried out.
Disability rights campaigners also worry that the new eligibility criteria focus too narrowly on the severity and constancy of a health condition. The charity Z2K has highlighted a number of conditions they believe could be affected, including Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder, autism, and dementia. They point out that people living with such conditions may see their monthly Universal Credit reduced by over £200 if they are deemed ineligible for the health component.
James Taylor, who heads up strategy at the disability equality charity Scope, expressed reservations about the planned changes, stating: “We’re concerned the reforms will establish an unfair divide, where some disabled people receive more support than others without good reason. The realities of living with a disability are often far more complex than the proposed system allows for,” he remarked.
The government has stated that existing Universal Credit claimants will be protected from any reduction in payments due to the new reforms. However, newly applying individuals – unless they meet stringent ‘severe conditions’ criteria – may find the health top-up drastically reduced. Under the plans, the monthly rate for new claimants with disabilities may drop from £422 to just £217. Only those whose illness is severe and lifelong, and whose symptoms do not vary, are considered eligible for the full amount.
Policy director Ayla Ozmen from Z2K questioned the practicality of these rules, noting: “Many people with degenerative or complex conditions simply aren’t able to work again, and it’s not clear how the government intends to protect them from financial hardship under these new rules.” Campaigners are demanding further clarity and safeguards to ensure that those who are genuinely unable to work due to disability do not fall through the cracks.
Responding to criticism, a government spokesperson defended the reforms, arguing they will improve support for those able to work and ensure a safety net for those most in need. The government claims the changes, along with additional targeted employment programmes, will lift 50,000 children out of poverty, and boost opportunities for families living with disability or chronic illness.
Beyond benefits reform, ministers say they are also tackling poverty through wider measures, such as expanding free school meals for all families on Universal Credit and increasing investment in social housing. Even so, with final criteria for the ‘severe conditions’ test yet to be established, and confusion remaining about which illnesses will qualify, concerns remain for many who face day-to-day uncertainty due to their health.
As the government moves forward with its plans, campaigners argue that the lived experience of people with fluctuating or degenerative conditions must be properly considered. The coming months will likely see further debate as politicians, charities and claimants argue for a system that balances savings with social justice and meaningful support for those who need it most.