Arun Veerappan, Interim Director of Research, says:

“As it stands, the Government’s sums don’t add up and these reforms are unlikely to both help disabled people and save the taxpayer money.

“Tightening PIP eligibility, for example, has been tried before by previous Governments and proposals have either been ruled unlawful, proved too complex or abandoned as unworkable.

Savings will also be offset by unintended costs like increased pressure on the NHS and care, as people seek alternative sources of support, a drop in spending from disabled households and additional legal costs from appeals.

“We look forward to seeing further detail on potential costs, but the reforms currently run the risk of both withdrawing critical support for disabled people whilst failing to save the Exchequer money - neither of which are the Government’s intention.

“Instead of framing spending on disabled people as a sunk cost, the Government should focus on the value disabled people bring as taxpayers, employees, entrepreneurs, CEOs and consumers. We will continue to fail to get welfare reform right until we highlight the true value of disabled people in our society and our economy.”