Rachel Reeves accused of ‘attack on disabled’ as claimants say cuts will risk lives

has been warned that cuts to disability benefits as part of welfare reforms would and quality of life. The Chancellor will deliver her spring statement on March 26 with increased borrowing costs and weak economic growth likely to require spending cuts in order to meet her commitments on managing the public finances.

Curbing the is expected to be among moves to contribute to savings. The sickness and disability bill for working-age people has risen by £20billion since the pandemic and is forecast to hit £70bn over the next five years. Paul Doyle, 49, from Newcastle, used to work 12 hour shifts for six days a week as a carer and support worker until he developed chronic fatigue syndrome in his early forties. In a bitter twist of irony, he now needs twice daily visits from carers to help him eat, wash and dress.

Mr Doyle receives about £1,300 per month in Universal Credit () and Personal Independence Payment (), which is designed to help meet extra living costs for people with a long term physical or mental health condition or disability or whose diagnoses mean everday tasks are difficult.

He told the Express: “[Rachel Reeves] won’t be affected by cuts, but they’re going to kill people or seriously affect disabled people’s quality of life. A lot of the disabled don’t have a high quality of life to start with. It’s a damn disgrace.”

The father of two grown up daughters said he wants to be as independent as possible and not burden his family, but said if his benefits were to be cut then he would have to face giving up his carers, who he has to pay towards.

Work and Pensions Secretary has said an upcoming Health and Disability Green Paper will lay out plans to help those who can work back into jobs, but charities have warned cuts to disability benefits won’t help the Government achieve that goal or fix the benefits system. Mr Doyle said he would work if he physically could, but his condition prevents him from doing much more than dressing or washing sometimes, making him less dependable as an employee.

He said: “I would love to work. My way of dealing with stress was throwing myself headlong at my job. It wasn’t highly paid, but it was very rewarding.”

The former carer added: “I feel like the Government is abandoning us. I don’t know how they expect people to live…I feel like this is an attack on the disabled.”

Ruth Holden, from Manchester, is a full-time carer for her husband, Paul, who lost most of the use of his legs when he fell down a set of stairs while at work. Mrs Holden, 45, has also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition marked by muscle pain, aching joints, fatigue and disturbed sleep.

Together the couple receive just under £1,000 of PIP per month, but they struggle to keep up with rising utility bills, food prices and their rent. In an effort to provide for their three daughters, Mr and Mrs Holden have skipped meals. They are sometimes forced to choose between eating or heating their home.

Mrs Holden said: “PIP doesn’t cover all our outgoings… We rely on [the Government] not taking our benefits from us. It’s not that my husband nor I don’t want to work. I would rather go to work. You’re guaranteed the money and you know what you’re getting every month. It’s a lot less stressful [than being on benefits].

“I would not choose to live on welfare if I had the choice, with all the difficulties it causes.”

Backbench Labour MPs have made it known to ministers they are concerned proposals to reform the welfare system will harm vulnerable people claiming benefits. Cabinet ministers are reportedly divided over the plans and have urged the Chancellor to rethink them, according to media outlet Bloomberg.

Despite the warnings, Ms Reeves has doubled down on the need to reform the welfare system, insisting the Government must “get a grip” of it.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir denied Britain would be “returning to austerity” under the changes, but said the cost of benefits is “going through the roof” and on track to surpass the bill for the Home Office and prisons combined.

He argued that the existing system cannot be justified on “moral” or “economic” terms.

Asked how freezing PIP might impact her family, Mrs Holden said: “It’s not easy already. How do we stretch our finances even further?… I feel abandoned. They don’t know how we live. They’re out of touch with the person on the street.”

Stewart McCulloch, chief executive of Christians Against Poverty (CAP), said the charitable company was “deeply concerned” by reported cuts to PIP.

He said: “[It] risks pushing some of the most vulnerable into debt. We understand the government needs to try to prevent the welfare bill from rising substantially in the coming years, but we believe investing in people instead of cutting their income is the way to achieve this.”

Mr McCulloch added: “The idea that cutting benefits motivates people to improve their situation simply doesn’t hold up to the lived realities our clients share with us – it just traps them in deeper poverty and debt.”

CAP has called for a protected, minimum amount of social security with a basic rate which covers life’s essentials and ensures support never falls below an “unacceptable” level.

A spokesperson said: “We have been clear that the current welfare system is broken and needs reform, so it is fairer on the taxpayer, helps long-term sick and disabled people who can work to find employment, whilst ensuring it provides support for those who need it most.

“We have a duty to get the welfare bill on a more sustainable path and we will achieve that through meaningful, principled reforms rather than arbitrary cuts to spending.

“That’s why as part of our Plan for Change we will bring forward our proposals for reform shortly that will unlock work to help us reach our ambition of an 80% employment rate, and is fairer for all.”