What we know about the UK Government’s plans to change the benefit and support system

On 18^th March 2025, the UK Government announced that they are planning to make big changes to the benefit and support system. They published a ‘Green Paper’ for public consultation about their plans. The Green Paper is called ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working.

No Easy Read format was published.

On 19^th March a note was added to the consultation web page, to say that alternative formats will be added as soon as possible.

Alternative formats were added the second week of April. Here is a link to the easy read version of the consultation

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f399ba6852ad6032f5bf8a/pathways-to-work-easy-read.pdf

Other formats here

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-benefits-and-support-to-get-britain-working-green-paper

 

On 30th June the Government made a statement about making two changes to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. Read the statement here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-06-30/hcws755

 

On 1st June 2025 In the House of Commons, there was a Second Reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

MP’s voted on the Bill. There were more votes in favour of the Bill than there were against the Bill.

It will now pass to the next law making stage.

 

What are we doing?

• We have asked our members with learning disabilities what they think about the proposals.
• We will do more of this over the next few months.
• We are running 5 online sessions to talk with members and support staff about the consultation.
• We are running an online session to support self advocacy groups and support staff with the consultation.
• We have written a position statement about this – you can read it here
• We requested an Easy Read version of the consultation.
• We will be responding to the consultation.
• We have done an example letter for people with learning disabilities to write to their MPs.
• We ran an online workshop to help people who wanted to write to their MPs.
• Chief Executive, Joe Powell wrote to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
• Chief Executive, Joe Powell spoke at an online MP briefing hosted by Steve Witherden MP, about the impact of the proposed changes to benefits and support. Read Joe’s speech here – ImpactsOnthePathwaystoWorkGreenPaperWalesJoePowell20May
• Joe attended a mass lobby at Westminster Hall , London about the impact of the proposed cuts on disabled people.
• AWPF attended the official Wales consultation event about the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
• AWPF submitted a response to the Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation.

More information coming soon!

 

What can you do?

• Write to your MP, to let them know about your concerns and to ask them to represent your views.
• Let us know what you think about the suggestions in the Green Paper. This will help us to write our consultation response. Contact kelly@allwalespeople1st.co.uk or get in touch on Facebook Messenger.

More information coming soon!