Dimensions responds to Welfare Bill changes

We welcome the government’s decision to co-produce changes to disability benefits with disabled people. This is what we’ve been calling for and we’re delighted that the government has listened.

Matt Lester who is supported by Dimensions and is vice chair of the Adult Social Care all-party lived experience group, said:

“MPs listened to us, and they put pressure on the government to change the benefits Bill and that’s a real success. When people with lived experience speak to their MPs, they can explain the impact of decisions and help influence the way they vote on key subjects.”

“As co-chair of the working group of the Adult Social Care all-party group I lead people with lived experience to tell their truth, and we are looking forward to contributing to the Timms review. I’ve met Stephen Timms several times and I’m concerned that he doesn’t truly understand what it’s like to be moderately disabled. I’m glad the review will be co-produced and consider all disabilities, including invisible ones.”

Many of the people we support with moderate learning disabilities would no longer have been eligible for personal independence payments (PIP) in the original Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

Labour backbench MPs rebelled against the government and forced Liz Kendall to reverse some cuts to universal credit and protect current claimants of personal independence payment (Pip) from stricter eligibility rules.

Despite this, Labour MPs were still opposed to the Bill and fearing a humiliating defeat, the government announced a further U-turn, saying it would not change Pip rules until it had time to consider the conclusions of the current PIP consultation that Dimensions and the More than a Provider collaborative have contributed to.

In it we called for:

• A welfare system that supports people to live ordinary lives in their community
• No cuts to PIP
• A fairer and faster Access to Work scheme

The government won the vote on its watered-down bill by 75 votes. You can find out how your MP voted by adding your postcode to this link.

The disabilities minister Stephen Timms will now conduct a review into the impact of the cuts. This will be co-produced with disabled people, organisations and MPs. The review will be the first comprehensive report into PIP in a decade and is expected to be published in autumn 2026.

Matt Lester continued:

“I work with Parliament, but everyone can write to their MP and don’t worry, it won’t affect benefits or your job. So, please write to your MP and tell me how it goes.”