Government Must Rethink Unfair PIP Changes

The Government’s proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) could put essential support at risk for thousands of people here in Newbury and across the country.

Under the plans, people would need to score at least four points in one daily living activity to qualify for support from November 2026. New data shows that around 84% of PIP claimants in Newbury could lose some or all their benefit as a result.

For many, this benefit makes daily life manageable. It can help with basic needs like washing, cooking, and staying safe at home, things that many of us take for granted.

These changes risk pulling the rug out from under people who depend on this support to live independently, stay in work, and maintain their dignity.

I know many people feel anxious about what this could mean for them or their loved ones. I’m calling on the Government to urgently rethink these proposals and to listen to the people whose lives this will affect.

There’s a better way to support people with disabilities, one that focuses on fixing health and social care, improving mental health services, and giving disabled people the tools they need to thrive, not punishing them by cutting lifelines.

The cost-of-living crisis has already made life harder for those on low incomes and with disabilities. We should be focused on reducing those pressures, not making them worse.

I will continue to fight for a fair deal for people in Newbury who rely on PIP and other support. These changes are not just a technical adjustment: they would have real-life consequences for our friends, neighbours, and families.