Update on our campaigning against benefit cuts

In March, the UK government announced its plans to make Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the Universal Credit (UC) health element harder to access in England and Wales.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the situation is less clear, but there will be direct and indirect impacts on people in these parts of the UK, too.

In response to the government’s proposals we launched our open letter which we’ll be handing in to the Department for Work and Pensions on 30 June. Sign the open letter to urge the government to rethink their plans.

We’ve also:

• hosted 3 in-person and 3 online focus groups to understand what people with Parkinson’s and care partners think of the government’s plans and how they’ll be affected
• shared a questionnaire to capture the experiences of the Parkinson’s community which is open until 27 May. If you or the person you support has Parkinson's, and has ever claimed UC, PIP or Adult Disability Payment (ADP, the Scottish equivalent of PIP), you can share your experiences on our Google form.

Both of these activities will help us to respond to the government consultation that closes on 30 June.

Making our concerns heard

We’ve been sharing our thoughts on the government’s proposals with ministers at meetings and in parliament.

Several people with Parkinson’s have joined us to share their concerns about the proposals and how they’ll impact them.

MPs who have attended the meetings and our World Parkinson’s Day drop in briefing have since asked questions in parliament, or spoken in debates raising concerns from the community.

In meetings

Alongside colleagues from other health and disability charities, we've met the Work and Pensions Secretary and the Ministers for Social Security and Disability.

We raised the Parkinson’s community's concerns about the PIP assessment, how they’re degrading and humiliating and that assessors simply don’t understand Parkinson’s. 

We restated that we’re ready to provide DWP and assessors with the relevant training on Parkinson’s that they need. 

And we added that making it harder for people with Parkinson’s to claim PIP will impact their ability to manage their symptoms and stay well.

As a result of these meetings, we're the only condition-specific organisation that has been invited to be part of the government’s review of the PIP assessment.

We were also in the audience for the speech that the Work and Pensions Secretary made on 21 May. We made it clear that people with Parkinson’s feel that tightening the PIP criteria is an attack on them and the disabled community.

In debates

During Graeme Downie MP’s debate about Parkinson's Awareness Month, many MPs voiced their constituents' concerns about many issues including the government cuts to PIP and UC. Watch the debate on parliamentlive.tv.

Jim Shannon MP spoke out on behalf of the Parkinson’s community in Diane Abbott MP’s debate on PIP. Watch the debate on parliamentlive.tv.

And several MPs raised concerns from their constituents in Paul Davies MP's debate on Parkinson's care. Watch the debate on parliamentlive.tv.

At the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Parkinson’s

The APPG on Parkinson’s is a cross-party group of MPs and peers who have an interest in the condition. They raise awareness of Parkinson’s and influence the government to improve the lives of people affected by the condition.

In May they met and discussed the impact of the government plans to cut PIP and the health element of UC on the Parkinson's community.

Colin Wells, who lives with Parkinson's, shared his experience with MPs and peers and urged them to put pressure on the government to rethink the changes, he stated it was 'an attack on me, people with Parkinson’s and the disabled community'. His contribution left attendees in tears with many supporting our activities in Parliament following his contribution.

Parkinson’s UK staff, Mary Whelan (a Benefits and Employment Adviser) and Sue Christoforou (Policy Manager) shared the wider impact on the Parkinson's community, including care partners and also the problems many experience with the assessment process.

MPs and peers agreed to take action on our behalf including tabling questions and asking their local councils to assess the impact the cuts to PIP eligibility will have on their resources or services.

We also put them on notice that we'll need their support when legislation is presented to Parliament on these changes in the coming weeks.

This was an important meeting to share the impact of the changes on the Parkinson's community and inspire them to act.

Campaigning with other organisations

We’re working with other charities across the sector to put pressure on the government through the Disability Benefits Consortium.

We’re also collaborating with the MS Society, Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Neurological Alliance to target MPs across England ahead of the crucial debate on changes to PIP and UC in the coming weeks.

We’ve developed a step-by-step guide on how to ask  your local MP and councillor to take action and how you can share your activities with your local media. We have a short time to make our voices heard and change the government’s mind. Play your part and get involved today! Download the toolkit (PDF). 

What is happening in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

In Scotland, reductions in Universal Credit will apply. There will be no direct impact on ADP which has replaced PIP.

The UK government has not yet explained how overlaps between UK and Scottish benefits will work. Importantly, cuts in PIP spending will mean £470m less in the Scottish government’s budget.

The changes won’t immediately impact people in Northern Ireland, however once any changes are introduced in England and Wales the NI government will implement them, so people with Parkinson’s in NI are likely to see changes in the coming years.