Open Letter to All Greater Manchester MPs Regarding the Government’s Green Paper on Benefits
20 May 2025
To the Members of Parliament representing Greater Manchester,
We are writing to you as members of the Greater Manchester Equality Panels regarding the Government’s recent ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper on changes to benefits. We are deeply concerned that the proposals outlined in the Green Paper risk undermining the dignity, security, and well-being of the very people the social security system was created to support. All the proposed policies concentrate on supply side workforce activation and none address the real problem of demand side labour market conditions. We are concerned that the language being used to talk about the Green Paper will have a negative impact on discrimination against disabled people. We already have seen a rise in disability hate crimes since 2010.
We now have both the Office for Budget Responsibility impact assessment and responses to Freedom of Information requests, that show 1.3 Million disabled people will lose Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Daily Living[1] and 80% of Universal Credit Health claimants (Limited Capability to Work Related Activity (LCWRA) & LCWRA+PIP) would lose all entitlement, raising the total facing a loss of income to 2 million disabled people[2]. The re-arrangement of Universal Credit conditionality will see 600,000 disabled people[3] who cannot work subject to being sanctioned for not looking for and finding work. Disabled people are already the majority of foodbank users, [4]these proposals will see that number likely rise by several hundred thousand. We also know from Professor Ben Geiger that the actual level of cuts amounts to £9 Billion[5]. The impact on employment is not known and will likely not be published until the autumn, meaning no one can make informed decisions about the stated aspirations that this will raise employment. There is a great deal of existing data which suggests it will not, beyond a few percentage points[6]. This raises serious questions about fairness, honesty, lack of peer reviewed independent evidence, and long-term cumulative social impact. We are concerned about the impact on the Government priorities of growth and reducing National Health Service (NHS) waiting lists. In a region like Greater Manchester, where communities are already grappling with inequalities, entrenched poverty, and continuing austerity, these changes will disproportionately harm the people who are already most excluded.
The United Nations has twice reported on the conditions for disabled people in the UK, finding that there were ‘grave and systemic’ violations of our human rights[7], with further regression. This Green Paper will exacerbate those abuses
We highlight the following key concerns:
- Disability and Health Assessments
The proposed tightening of eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Work Capability Assessment (WCA) (before its abolition, leaving a revamped PIP assessment as a single gateway to health elements of Universal Credit) risks excluding individuals with genuine and complex needs, particularly those with invisible or fluctuating conditions. Many of these individuals already struggle to navigate an opaque and stressful process, that has contributed towards over 600 suicides in just 3 years[8]. - Mental Health Oversight
The suggestion that mental health issues are being “over-diagnosed” within the benefits system can be stigmatizing[9]. Mental health is a critical public health issue and dismissing it as less ‘deserving’ of support perpetuates harmful stereotypes. - Conditionality and Sanctions
Proposals to expand conditionality and increase sanctions are counterproductive. Evidence—including from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) itself—shows that sanctions do not lead to better employment outcomes, but do exacerbate hardship, debt, and mental distress[10]. - Consultation Process
There are 22 policies announced but the consultation only seeks to discuss half of these with the most impactful measures instead being put into a parliamentary bill.
We are also concerned that the consultation process may not be fully inclusive, particularly of disabled individuals, carers, disabled people’s organisations, and frontline support workers. Any meaningful reform must be co-designed with those most affected.
As MPs elected to serve the people of Greater Manchester, we urge you to:
- Vote against the proposed changes.
- Commit to co-producing a disability strategy with disabled people as outlined on the DPO Forum Manifesto[11].
- Advocate for evidence and rights-based policies that reflect the lived experience of your constituents and the reality of the Social Model of Disability[12].
We believe a Social Security system should empower, not penalise. It should be built on trust, support, and to remove the disabling extra costs of disability which are on average are £1,010 a month.[13]
We hope you will raise these concerns in Parliament and in your work locally, and we would be happy meet with you to engage with you further on this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel
Greater Manchester Equality Alliance
LGBTQ+ Equality Panel
Greater Manchester Older People’s Equality Panel
Greater Manchester Race Equality Panel
GMCA Women and Girl’s Equality Panel
Youth Combined Authority
[1] https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/personal_independence_payment_pi_7/response/2989270/attach/3/Response%20FOI2025%2024990.pdf
[3] https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/a-dangerous-road/
[4] https://www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-research/news/almost-one-in-five-people-receiving-universal-credit-and-disability-benefits
[5]https://inequalities.substack.com/p/disability-benefit-cuts-are-deeper-than-you-think
[6] https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/new-government-figures-show-key-policy-at-heart-of-disability-employment-strategy-will-not-work/
[7] https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/no-progress-2016-grave-and-systemic-violations-disabled-peoples-rights-un-report-says
[8] https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2022/june/dwp-ignored-‘hugely-alarming’-research-linked-wca-600-suicides-mps-are-told “read also How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence’ by journalist John Pring. [8] https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/disabled-activists-deliver-book-exposing-deaths-hands-dwp-every-member-parliament
[9] https://www.rethink.org/news-and-stories/news-and-views/2025/our-response-to-the-health-secretary-s-claim-that-mental-illnesses-are-being-overdiagnosed/
[10] https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/sanctions-ineffective-way-getting-people-jobs-or-work-more-hours-finds-suppressed-dwp-report
[11] https://www.disabledpeoplesmanifesto.com/manifesto
[12] https://gmcdp.com/beliefs-values-aims/social-model
[13] https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/disability-price-tag
Easy Read Letter: Concerns about the Government’s Green Paper on Benefits
To: All Members of Parliament (MPs) in Greater Manchester
From: Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel, LGBTQ+ Equality Panel, Older People’s Equality Panel, Race Equality Panel, Women and Girl’s Equality Panel, Youth Combined Authority
Date: 20 May 2025
Why we are writing to you
We are very worried about the Government’s new plan for changing the benefits system.
This plan is called ‘Pathways to Work’ – a Green Paper from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
We believe these changes will harm disabled people and others who already face big challenges.
We are asking you, as our local MPs, to speak out and take action.
Our main concerns
🛑 These changes will make life harder, not better
The Government says the changes will help people find work.
But they are not fixing the real problems.
There are not enough good, accessible jobs for disabled people.
The focus is on forcing people to work, not supporting them properly.
🧍♀️🧍♂️ Millions could lose money
• 1.3 million disabled people could lose their PIP Daily Living payment.
• 80% of people on Universal Credit with health needs could lose all support.
• In total, around 2 million disabled people could lose income.
• 600,000 people who are too unwell to work could be forced to look for jobs or risk sanctions (having money stopped).
🥫 Disabled people are already struggling
Many disabled people use food banks.
These new rules could make even more people go hungry.
There is evidence that the cuts could total £9 billion.
We do not know how many people (if any) will get jobs because of this.
But we do know that many people will lose vital support.
⚖️ The United Nations has raised the alarm
The UN says the UK is breaking the human rights of disabled people.
This new plan will make things worse.
What we are most worried about
1. Disability and Health Assessments
The Government wants to change the rules for getting PIP and other benefits.
People with invisible illnesses (like mental health conditions or chronic pain) may be told they are not “disabled enough”.
This is dangerous and unfair.
2. Mental Health is being ignored
The Green Paper says too many people with mental health problems are getting support.
This is wrong and stigmatising (making people feel ashamed).
Mental health is real and important.
3. Sanctions and Conditions
The Government wants more people to be punished if they don’t meet certain rules.
But sanctions don’t help people find work.
They just cause more stress, poverty, and ill health.
4. Poor Consultation
There are 22 changes in the plan.
But the public is only being asked about some of them.
Many of the most serious ideas are already going into law.
Disabled people and their organisations have not been properly listened to.
What we ask from you, our MPs
Please:
✅ Vote against these changes.
✅ Support disabled people’s voices and co-design a new plan with us.
✅ Back fair policies based on people’s real lives and human rights.
✅ Recognise the real cost of being disabled, which is around £1,010 a month extra.
A better way forward
We want a benefits system that:
❤️ Supports people
✊ Respects people’s rights
🤝 Builds trust, not fear
💷 Helps cover the real cost of disability
We would like to meet with you to talk more about this.
Please work with us to protect our communities.
Thank you.
Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel
Greater Manchester Equality Alliance
LGBTQ+ Equality Panel
Greater Manchester Older People’s Equality Panel
Greater Manchester Race Equality Panel
GMCA Women and Girl’s Equality Panel
Youth Combined Authority
GM Disabled People's Panel 