RNIB response - Government confirms it will make major concessions to Labour MPs over its planned benefits reforms

Vivienne Francis, RNIB’s Strategy and Public Affairs Chief Officer, said: “The concessions put forward by the UK Government are testament to the huge strength of feeling and the widespread campaigning by disabled people to protect the essential support needed to live with dignity and independence.

“But while the concessions will come as a relief to existing claimants, the reality is that this will create an unjust two-tiered health and disability benefit system.

“It is unacceptable that someone newly diagnosed with sight loss in 2027, during what is already an extremely difficult time, could be penalised by the tightened PIP criteria, whereas current PIP claimants can maintain this essential financial support.

“People with sight loss face additional, unavoidable costs regardless of when someone’s sight loss began.

“We urge MPs to stand strong and vote against the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment bill on Tuesday. No one with sight loss, now or in the future, should be pushed into poverty by the cuts or lose out on essential support to live independently.”