Benefit changes Easy Read

Benefit changes

In front of a picture of lots of different types of benefit leaflets is the Houses of Parliament and a hand putting money into an envelope.

In 2025 the UK Government said it wanted to make lots of changes to benefits.

Benefits are things some people can apply for to give them money to help to pay for things like personal care, housing, and getting out and about.

The Government wanted to make some changes to the benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

A man scratching his head and looking confused. Behind him is some money and the words PIP and people being helped to have a meal and to walk.

The changes would make it harder for lots of disabled people to get PIP.

Three people showing they are not happy about a picture of two people 10 pin bowling with a red cross through it

Disabled people, charities, MPs and lots of other people said the changes were not fair and should not happen.

A list of changes with a red cross beside it.

The Government decided not to make the changes because so many people thought they were not fair.

A woman looking at some papers with the word PIP behind her and people helping other people to have a meal and to walk.

What is the Government doing?

The Government is doing a review of PIP before it makes any changes.

A list of 3 things. One of them has a green tick beside it, the other two have a red cross beside them.

A review is when you look at something to see what is working well and what is not working well.

The Government’s review of PIP is called the Timms Review.

Mencap is taking part in the review.

A group of people sitting around a table. One of the people has a speech bubble above them with the words Personal Independence Payment and pictures of people being helped with drinking and walking in it.

Mencap will make sure that the people doing the review know what people with a learning disability and their families have to say about PIP.

A woman holding her hands to her head looking stressed, with red wavy lines by her head.

What does Mencap want the Government to know about getting PIP if you have a learning disability?

Mencap wants the Government to know:

People with a learning disability feel anxious and stressed if they have to keep having assessments for PIP.

An assessment sheet with calendars from 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 around it. There is a calendar for 2027 with a red cross beside it.

People with a learning disability or other disabilities which last for all of their life should not have to have another assessment for PIP if their needs have not changed.

images of all the things the PIP assessment covers, including meal preparation and planning a journey.

The PIP assessment looks at all of the different things people with a learning disability need help with in their day to day life.

Two clipboards with PIP on them. There is a green tick beside the clipboard that has a question mark beside someone preparing food with help. There is a red cross beside the clipboard that has a letter from the NHS.

In the future, the PIP assessment should still look at what help people need in their day to day life instead of deciding if they can get PIP because of the name of their disability or health condition.

A man sat in a chair, reading from a sheet of paper.

The information the assessors look at to work out if people can get PIP does not always have information about the help that people with a learning disability need.

A clipboard with an information sign on it and some pictures of people with a learning disability having help with cooking, using a map, understanding information and talking to people.

The information the assessors look at should include more information about the help that people with a learning disability might need.

A woman with a thought bubble with a green tick and red cross inside it

This will help the assessors to work out more fairly how much help people with a learning disability need and how much PIP money they should get.

A woman sitting in a wheelchair with her chin resting on her hand.

People with a learning disability often find it difficult or get upset when they try to claim PIP.

A man in a wheelchair smiling with his thumb up. Behind him is a map of the UK with Scotland highlighted and circled in red.

The Government should look at how people in Scotland claim benefits for having a disability and learn from the good things about it.