Mencap Responds
Mencap responds to the Universal Credit and
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) now get PIP instead.
Bill announcement
Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of
Strategy
A strategy is a plan to show what an organisation, or a person, wants to do and how they are going to do it.
and Influence at
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
charity Mencap, said:
“Today
the Government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work.
confirmed the choice to turn its back on thousands of disabled people and by pushing ahead with these welfare reforms, they are causing a huge amount of anxiety.
“Mencap’s recent
survey
A survey is when someone asks you to answer some questions.
of people with a learning disability found an alarming 70% would need to cut down on food if they lose PIP, while over half (60%) said they would need to cut back on heating and nearly half (45%) were worried they would be unable to leave their home. These stats paint a very grave picture of what’s to come for those who will lose PIP under the Government’s plans.
“The Government needs to go back to the drawing board to work with disabled people on fixing the issues with the social security system in a way that does not leave anyone worse off.”
Notes to editors:
Survey details:
Survey of Mencap
Policy Shapers
Policy Shapers are a group of people with a learning disability and their families who help Mencap by answering surveys each month. The surveys help Mencap tell decision makers what life is like for people with a learning disability.
, May 2025 https://www.mencap.org.uk/get-
involved
Involved is being included in something or taking part in something.
/
campaign
A campaign is when people work together to try to change something.
-mencap/our-work-
parliament
Parliament is a group of people who make laws and check what the government is doing.
/become-policy-shaper
For further information, please contact Mencap’s media team on: [email protected] or 02076 965414 (including out of hours).
Note to editors
About Mencap
Mencap exists to ensure the UK is the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We support people directly and campaign with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. We work to change laws, increase representation and campaign for better health,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
and
employment
Employment means having a job.
opportunities for the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK.
What is a learning disability?
- A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which affects someone for their whole life. Typically, people with a learning disability need more time to learn and process information. They may need extra support to develop skills, complete tasks and interact with others, or they may have more complex needs requiring round-the clock care. The level of support needed is different for everyone and may change during a person’s lifetime.
- Learning disability is NOT a mental illness or a learning difficulty. Often, the term ‘learning difficulty’ is wrongly used in place of ‘learning disability’. Having a learning difficulty (such as ADHD or
dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty. People who have dyslexia can find it hard to read, write and spell.
) may mean a person learns at a different pace or in a different way BUT – unlike a learning disability - it does not affect a person’s intellect. With the right support, most people with a learning disability can lead happy, healthy, independent lives. At Mencap, it’s our mission to remove societal barriers and shatter misconceptions to make this more possible for more people.
Mencap’s guide to reporting on Learning Disability
When it comes to creating content with people with a learning disability, we know many people feel nervous about saying and doing the wrong thing. Our guide for journalists, covers everything from up-to-date facts and figures to the right language to use. It also includes tips on how to work with people with a learning disability to gather the best content.
