Pipping Up About PIP Reforms

In the UK, being Disabled costs an individual an extra ￡975 per month (Scope).

This is known as the Disability tax, the extra money we as Disabled people pay when navigating a society that is not designed for us. It’s also important we acknowledge the Disability pay gap, that's the gap between what a non-Disabled person gets paid and what a Disabled person gets paid. If you’re a Disabled woman or part of the global majority, then this gap widens.

• In 2023, Disabled people earned 15.1% less per hour than non-Disabled people.
• Disabled women faced a 30% lower hourly wage compared to non-Disabled men in 2023, amounting to a ￡3,640 annual shortfall (Trades Union Congress [TUC]).
• Autistic employees had a 27.9% pay gap, while those with epilepsy faced a 26.9% gap in 2023 (Office for National Statistics [ONS]).

Now, why am I telling you this?

Well, it’s important to know this truth before we start talking about what’s been circulating in the news with the UK government’s proposed plans to reform Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

PIP is a benefit designed to help individuals with the extra costs of living with a Disability or long-term health condition. It is financial support to assist with daily living or mobility costs, helping us with the Disabled tax and Disability pay gaps I mentioned earlier.

Think of a Disabled person who can’t drive. They have to pay extra for public transport, and if it’s not accessible for them, that cost increases even more. They might need to rely on taxis or other specialised transport services that cater to their needs, adding a significant financial burden.

Think of the cost of specialist equipment, things like wheelchairs, mobility aids, or even technology to support daily tasks. These are often not covered by standard health insurance or benefits, and the cost can be overwhelming.

Then there’s the cost of heating and cooling. For some Disabled people, it’s essential to have their living environment at a specific temperature to manage their health, but these extra heating or cooling costs aren’t always taken into account in the wider conversation about rising energy prices.

For those who need extra care or support, whether that’s personal care assistants or therapy, the financial strain can feel endless. The costs of hiring carers, purchasing care-related products, and paying for ongoing therapy sessions can quickly add up.

These are just a few examples, but they show the reality of being Disabled, it’s not just about what you can earn, if you can even find employment. It is also about how much more it costs just to live day to day.

Now back to PIP.

Claiming PIP is far from a simple process, it is not just ticking a box. It involves a detailed, drawn-out process that often requires gathering substantial evidence, attending assessments, and completing a variety of forms.

In fact, the vast majority of initial PIP claims are rejected. According to government statistics, about 60% of claims are initially refused (Disability Rights UK). For those whose claims are rejected, appeals are common.

The appeal process involves several stages.

1. Mandatory Reconsideration: If a claim is refused, the first step is to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, where the decision is reviewed.
2. Appeal to Tribunal: If the reconsideration does not result in a change, individuals can then appeal to an independent tribunal. This process can take several months, with many claimants needing to provide further medical evidence, reports, and sometimes attend a hearing.

The appeal success rate can vary, but many individuals find they have a better chance of success once they present further evidence, often leading to an eventual award of PIP after the appeal. The average success rate at tribunals is around 70-75% for those who choose to appeal.

PIP assessments aren't always carried out by medical professionals either.

The assessment process can also be degrading and dehumanising. During my own PIP assessment, I was asked to stand on one leg by the assessor. How this proved my capabilities while being registered blind, I will never know. Others have shared stories of being asked about their bathroom, bedroom, and even bowel habits. Make it make sense.

Make no mistake, PIP is not some benefit that is easily claimed, abused or stopping people from working. In fact, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has one of the lowest rates of fraudulent claims compared to other benefits. According to official statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the rate of fraud for PIP is less than 1%.

So it leaves me baffled and upset when I think of the harm that could be, and looks likely to be, caused to those already on PIP and those who are yet to go through the horrendous application process.

The UK government’s proposed plans to make what they call reforms to PIP include targeting those currently claiming or who will claim in the future, placing a freeze on it, and potentially requiring Disabled students to stick to education to claim PIP.

You know, that same environment where most of us don’t get the support or accessibility we need? Where Specialist Educational Needs (SEN) students are already being failed?

As the cost of living rises, so too does the Disability tax. A freeze on PIP means that the Disability tax could, and will, plunge some Disabled households into poverty over the next few years.

We also need to consider the mental health of those who are having to read these headlines, now worried about paying their rent or affording the extra support that PIP has made possible. The potential loss of this benefit could mean individuals being unable to leave their homes or becoming isolated.

People hear the word "benefits" and they think "lazy", they think "fraudster", when the reality is that for many, benefits are a lifeline.

For Disabled people, PIP is the financial freedom to live independently and overcome the Disability tax.

This benefit reform isn’t reform.

It’s much of the same as we’ve had before, without any actual change to things that could make it easier for Disabled people to work. Things like:

• A complete overhaul of the Disability Confident scheme.
• Tougher laws on accessibility with consequences for non-compliance.
• Employment support and retention schemes.
• Encouragement of flexible working.
• A better-funded and better-supported Access to Work scheme.
• Financial grants and guidance for accessibility changes for employers.
• Better transport that is actually accessible.

I mean, that’s me sat here at 1 am writing this. There’s so much more that could be done to help Disabled people get into work, not push them further into oppression by targeting a benefit that has nothing to do with whether they work or not.

Want to help Disabled people? Stop scapegoating us. Stop pushing us into poverty, stop saying this reform is to help people get into work, when if you wanted to be doing that, you would be working on some of the stuff I mentioned above, not targeting a benefit that you can work on and claim anyway.

If the government truly wanted to support Disabled people into work, they’d be fixing the barriers we face, not ripping away the financial support that helps us survive. This isn’t reform—it’s a reckless attack on our independence, our dignity, and our right to exist without being punished for it. We deserve better.

Speak up. Share this. Contact your MP. Sign petitions. Demand better, because if we don’t fight back now, these so-called reforms will push even more Disabled people into poverty and isolation. We are not invisible, and we are not going anywhere.

Until next time...

Jamie Shields

Registered Blind AuDHD Rhino

www.Disabledbysociety.com