A BBC business correspondent reports that the UK government is expected to announce plans to cut welfare spending this week. This comes after the Prime Minister stated that the current welfare system is "unsustainable, untenable and unfair." Long-term sick leave and disability benefits, particularly Personal Independence Payment (PIP), are expected to face significant cuts, potentially amounting to £5 billion.
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03-16, 2025The increase in the number of people claiming long-term health-related benefits has brought the total annual welfare expenditure to £64 billion. Some argue that reforming the welfare system could encourage claimants to work or increase their working hours. However, this move has raised concerns among many who fear being unable to pay their bills or being forced to take on jobs they are not capable of doing.
The BBC interviewed several people who expressed concerns about the potential impact of welfare cuts. Alison, 56, who lives with her brother in a council property in Southampton, said she felt "sick" at the thought of her benefits being cut. She has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from childhood trauma. She also suffers from panic attacks and night terrors. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been afraid to leave her house due to a "fear of germs."
Alison has not worked since losing her job at Southampton City Council in 1997 and claims the main disability benefit, PIP, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), totaling around £1,700 a month. She says she finds it difficult to cope with the pressures of work. "It's not that I don't want to work," she said, "I think about it all the time. Being on benefits doesn't make me happy." Alison has been told her benefit entitlement will last until 2027, but she says the thought of potential cuts after that makes her feel "very sad."
Emily, 41, who lives in Croydon, has autism and finds it difficult to manage her time and organize basic daily tasks. "My autism has prevented me from getting jobs in the past," she said. "Sometimes in interviews, I can't answer any questions. I often stutter and repeat myself. When you do that, people think, 'This person is weird, we don't need this person.'" She now works full-time as a flight attendant and has developed strategies to help her cope with being late, including waking up earlier to allow extra time before her shifts. She is aware that welfare claimants are often criticized. "I'm not a scrounger," she said. Emily receives over £400 a month in PIP payments, which are not means-tested. But the money mainly goes towards paying her everyday bills, rather than for occupational therapy, which she believes would really help her establish a proper routine. Receiving PIP also means she qualifies for a disabled person's railcard, making commuting to work more affordable. "It's a big deal," she said, "I struggle to pay."
Justine, 42, was born with a painful genetic condition that affects her joints. Even small movements like chopping vegetables or sneezing can cause dislocations. She also has autonomic dysfunction, a condition affecting her nervous system, which can cause her to faint. The constant pain and other symptoms lead to fatigue, but she still works 14 hours a week, tutoring students and providing support for students with special educational needs. "There was a year when I couldn't work at all. Then I gradually got better. I got a diagnosis and medication and started to feel a bit better. But as far as most of my doctors are concerned, they're very surprised that I'm working." Without the £737 a month in financial support, which helps her pay for housework and transportation, she says she would be unable to work. "It will backfire, it won't save them money," she said, because her other benefits would increase if she lost her income.
Steve, from South London, had to stop working after a car accident that left him with chronic cervical spondylosis, which affects the bones and skin health of the neck, as well as brain damage. He misses working but says taking away his benefits won't get him a job. "In my case, I hear a lot of ignorant comments... why don't I ride a moped and deliver Uber Eats? Everything you do normally... hurts. If I stand up for too long, it hurts," he said. "What am I supposed to do? Float?" Steve receives Universal Credit, as well as incapacity benefits including PIP, but says he struggles to pay his energy bills and buy food on his current income. "My life is already below minimum quality – this will lower it further, it will affect health first," he said. Encouraging people on benefits back to work can feel like bullying, he says. "When the government says 'encourage', the reality is 'threat'," he said. "You are being threatened to go back to work."
Alba, 53, is a well-paid IT contractor currently working at an airport near London. Although she suffers from chronic back pain as a result of two "fairly serious" motorcycle accidents, she is not currently receiving any disability support. She applied for it last year during a period of unemployment when she was using her savings to support herself. But in March, she was told she was not eligible. "They did their best to assess me – they were fair – and concluded that I could do some work. Which is true – but I wish they recognised that I suffer from chronic pain," she said. She worries that if her current contract is not renewed, she may find it difficult to find a job that allows her to work from home. "I can't go into an office every day. I really can't," she said. Her current employer is "very helpful" and allows her to work from home, which she has spoken to the BBC about previously. "I'm really glad I got this job," she said. "I don't want to claim benefits – it's awful. It's not my style," she added. "I don't want to sit at home doing nothing."
