Blind and partially sighted campaigners welcome government climbdown on PIP reforms

Vivienne Francis, RNIB’s Chief Strategy and Public Affairs Officer commented: “This has been a huge victory for the blind and partially sighted people who have campaigned bravely alongside the disabled community to protect the vital PIP payments that often cover crucial costs, care allowances and assistive technology. People like Frankie from London who has tried hard but unsuccessfully for most of their life to find paid work, but has to rely on PIP payments for vital care support and an emergency alarm.

“Many - especially the three in four blind and partially sighted people of working age who don't have paid employment - have shared their powerful stories of trying to cover their monthly bills in the midst of an economic crisis and have helped persuade MPs to reject these potentially disastrous changes.

“While our preference was for this bill to be dropped altogether, the fact that such a major last-minute concession was made is indicative of the need to listen far, far earlier and far more intently to disabled people.

“RNIB vows to play a robust part in the forthcoming review of the PIP assessment, alongside blind and partially sighted people, to ensure their needs are heard and acted upon although it remains to be seen what the status of that review will be in practice.

“At the same time as addressing changes to welfare, we need to see much more detail on the Government’s plans for promised employment support and urgent action to fix the broken Access to Work scheme so that many more blind and partially sighted people can gain paid employment.”