Proposed benefits cuts in Westminster
A series of potential changes to disability benefits were announced in the UK government’s spring budget in 2025. Find out more about the proposals – and how you can influence any changes.
In March 2025, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a series of potential cuts and changes to disability benefits.
We believe that these changes are unfair, will put people with experience of mental health problems at a disadvantage, and could lead to serious discrimination and stigmatising behaviour.
Below, we’ve mapped out what the proposals look like. And what you can do if you agree with us and don’t think the plans sound fair.
- What are the Government's proposals?
- How does this affect Scotland?
- How could this lead to stigma and discrimination?
- How will the changes be made?
- What is See Me doing about it?
What are the Government's proposals?
In the 2025 Spring Budget, the Chancellor outlined a number of proposed changes to disability benefits. These include:
-
Changing eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a non-means tested benefit to help with the additional cost associated with disability. Under the current system, PIP claimants are assessed against a list of criteria, called ‘activities’. A claimant must score at least eight points across these activities to qualify for the benefit. Under the new proposals, claimants will still need to score at least eight points all together, but they will have to score four points in a single activity. This will make it harder to qualify.
-
The health element of Universal Credit (a payment for people under State Pension age and on a low income or out of work) will be frozen from 2026 / 2027, and much lower health element will be offered to new claimants. The dates relating to this may change.
-
Combining contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance to create a new benefit, Unemployment Insurance. This will be paid at a set rate, and it won’t provide extra money.
-
Disabled young people will no longer be eligible for the health element until they are 22 years old.
-
Getting rid of the Work Capability Assessment in 2028. This is the test used to assess people for the health element of Universal Credit. It will be replaced by the more rigorous PIP assessment.
How does this affect Scotland?
Some welfare benefits are controlled by Westminster, while others are controlled by the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, through Social Security Scotland.
UK-wide benefits controlled by Westminster include:
-
Universal Credit
-
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - this is being phased out
-
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - this is replacing DLA
-
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
-
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
-
Housing Benefit
-
Working Tax Credit
-
Child Tax Credit
-
Income Support
Benefits controlled by the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood (devolved benefits) and administered by Social Security Scotland include:
-
Scottish Child Payment
-
Best Start Grants and Foods
-
Funeral Support Payment
-
Young Carer Grant
-
Child Winter Heating Assistance
In Scotland, PIP is gradually being replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which will be administered by Social Security Scotland. It is like PIP, but the application and renewal processes are different. This is intended to treat people with more dignity than the tests used for some of the UK-wide benefits. It’s unclear if the Westminster plans for PIP will impact on Scotland.
It’s also not yet clear how Universal Credit will be assessed in Scotland.
Some Scots are still receiving PIP, although it is anticipated that everyone will be moved over to ADP soon.
How could this lead to stigma and discrimination?
We believe that the proposals are discriminatory, as they have the potential to put people with experience of poor mental health and mental illness at a disadvantage.
We’re already starting to see discriminatory and stigmatising language emerging from politicians and media outlets, with discussions about ‘overdiagnosis’ of mental health problems, and suggestions that people who have a mental health diagnosis are taking up more resource than they should. This is really dangerous, and can lead to a shift in attitudes, undoing a lot of the positive work that we and our partners have done to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination in Scotland.
With all of the proposed changes, there’s a big focus on getting people ‘back to work’, which doesn’t take into consideration that this simply isn’t an option for many people with experience of poor mental health.
How will the changes be made?
The Government has produced a green paper – also known as a consultation document – setting out some of the key changes. The Pathways to Work paper provides an overview of the Government’s plans, and provides an opportunity for individuals and organisations, like See Me, to share their thoughts. This feedback will then be analysed, and the proposals look at again before moving into a debate in the House of Commons, then to legislation stage.
Alongside the green paper, the Government is moving ahead with making some changes through primary legislation regarding PIP and UC. This means that there won’t be a consultation process and instead, Members of Parliament (MPs) will go straight to debating the proposals in Parliament before voting on whether they should be made law. There is still potential for these proposals to change if politicians speak up on behalf of their constituents – and you can contact them and appeal to them to do that.
What is See Me doing about it?
See Me will be responding to the green paper, and we’ll give our volunteers the opportunity to feed their views and experiences into that response.
We have written to the First Minister, with support from some of our partners at the Scottish Mental Health Partnership.
We’ll also be considering this situation when we produce our own manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish election, setting out what we believe should be politicians’ priorities for the new parliament.
Letter to the First Minister
In May, we wrote to the First Minister, with support from some of our partners, to express our concern about the potential impact of the proposed cuts.
Read the letterWhat can I do about it?
If you, like us, think that these proposals don’t sound fair, there are a few ways that you can challenge them and make your voice heard.
-
Respond to the consultation
You can share your thoughts on the proposals with policymakers by responding to the consultation green paper.
-
Write to your MP
MPs will debate the proposed changes to PIP and Universal Credit in the House of Commons. This is where they should speak out to reflect the wants and needs of their constituents. By writing to your MP with your experiences, you have the opportunity to influence how they participate in that debate and how they vote on the changes.
-
Sign a petition
Lots of charities and community organisations are currently running petitions to show the number of people who oppose the proposed changes. Look for charities that are close to your interests, or run a quick internet search to see what’s out there.
Have your views heard
You can respond to the UK Government’s proposals through the ‘Pathways to Work’ green paper.
Respond to the consultationContacting your local Member of Parliament
Find contact details for your local MP, and check out our suggested letter to help you express your views.
