Government announces next steps on PIP review and welfare reforms
The UK Government has released two important updates on welfare reform that will affect blind and partially sighted people: their response to the Pathways to Work consultation and further details on the upcoming review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Pathways to Work: Your voices were heard
The Government's response to the Pathways to Work green paper (an official Government paper setting out ideas for welfare and employment reform for discussion) shows that disabled people's concerns were clearly heard. The consultation, which ran from March to June, received nearly 48,000 responses.
Crucially, there was broad opposition to the Government's proposals to tighten PIP eligibility criteria - changes that would have significantly impacted people with sight loss. As confirmed in the summer, these proposals have now been scrapped.
Thank you to everyone who took action. Almost 3,000 RNIB supporters shared their concerns directly with their MP about the impact cuts could have on people with sight loss, helping us reach 638 MPs – 98 per cent of Parliament. Your voices made a real difference.
The consultation also showed strong support for Access to Work, with many calling for a simplified and streamlined scheme that can deliver funding quickly. However, cuts to the health element of Universal Credit remain and will be implemented for new claimants in 2026.
The Government is continuing to develop policy on other measures from the green paper and will share further proposals in due course.
PIP review update: Co-chairs announced and steering group applications open
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, has announced further details about the Government's review of PIP, including the appointment of two co-chairs:
- Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, who has 25 years' experience as a national advocate for disability rights, co-production and social justice
- Sharon Brennan, who previously worked as Director of Policy and External Affairs at National Voices and advises the Department for Transport on accessibility
The co-chairs will oversee a steering group of 12 members, the majority of whom will be disabled people or representatives of disabled people's organisations. The steering group will shape and oversee a programme of participation and engagement so people and organisations not on the steering group can also feed into the review.
Mike Wordingham, RNIB’s Head of Policy, said:
“It’s welcome that disabled people will play a central role in the PIP review. Blind and partially sighted people often tell us that they find the PIP assessment process stressful and invasive. This needs to be fixed as receiving PIP is essential for many to meet the extra costs of sight loss. This review presents an important opportunity for blind and partially sighted people to help shape a system that better reflects our needs and daily realities.”
Applications are now open for people interested in joining the steering group through an Expression of Interest process, which runs until 30 November.
The Government has confirmed that the review has no explicit savings target and will operate within existing budget projections. The review aims to ensure PIP fairly reflects the reality of people's conditions and will be co-produced with disabled people.
Have your say
RNIB is gathering experiences and ideas from blind and partially sighted people to help shape our campaign for a fairer PIP system. Whether you currently receive PIP, are applying, or have been refused, we want to hear from you.
Take our short survey to share your experiences of the PIP assessment process and your ideas for improvement.
