The UK government is facing renewed pressure to overhaul the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system after new figures showed disabled people continue to face far higher unemployment rates than non-disabled workers. Calls for reform come as ministers continue the Timms Review into welfare and disability support.
Campaigners and trade unions say changes to PIP and employment support are needed to help disabled people enter and remain in work. The debate has intensified after the government abandoned earlier proposals to restrict eligibility for PIP following opposition from MPs.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now under scrutiny from disability groups, unions, and campaigners over how welfare policy can better support employment without increasing hardship for claimants. According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), disabled workers are currently experiencing unemployment rates not seen since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unions Call for Wider Support Alongside PIP Reform
The latest pressure on the government follows TUC research showing that the unemployment rate for disabled people stands at 8.8%, compared with 4.3% for non-disabled people. According to the TUC, this is the highest disability unemployment level recorded since before the pandemic.
Labour minister Sir Stephen Timms is leading the government’s ongoing review of PIP, which was launched after ministers dropped proposed restrictions to the benefit system. The review aims to examine whether PIP remains “fit and fair for the future,” according to the DWP.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the review presents what he described as a “vital opportunity” to improve support for disabled people seeking employment. He argued that many disabled people are dealing not only with unemployment, but also insecure work and low pay while navigating what he called a social security system “not fit for purpose.”
Nowak said reforms to PIP should be combined with broader workplace changes. According to his comments, these include ensuring disabled workers receive reasonable adjustments, strengthening employment rights, and reforming the Access to Work scheme. He added that these measures would help create a system capable of supporting disabled workers more effectively over the long term.
Disability Campaigners Warn PIP Changes Alone May Not Raise Employment
Not all campaigners believe changes to PIP itself will significantly improve employment outcomes. Linda Burnip, co-founder of Disabled People Against Cuts, said reforming the benefit alone would not increase the number of disabled people in work.
Instead, Burnip pointed to two specific areas she believes require immediate attention. According to her remarks, improvements to the Access to Work program and reversing funding cuts linked to Motability vehicles could make a more direct difference for disabled people trying to access employment.
The government has defended its broader welfare approach. A DWP spokesperson said ministers are changing legislation so disabled people can attempt work “without fear of reassessment.” The department also said it is investing £3.5 billion into tailored employment support for sick and disabled people.
According to the DWP, the funding is intended to help people “get on in life” through individualized employment assistance. The department maintained that the Timms Review is focused on ensuring the future sustainability and fairness of PIP.
The debate over welfare reform remains politically sensitive after the government withdrew earlier plans to tighten access to PIP. Ministers continue to face pressure from campaigners and unions demanding a balance between employment support and financial security for disabled claimants.
