The UK Government has proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) that could have a significant impact on the people we support at Cloverleaf. It is reported that 9 in 10 people in the UK currently receiving PIP could lose their entitlement under the new criteria.

PIP is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline. The proposed changes are not just numbers on a page—they represent a real threat to independence, dignity, and financial security.

Over the past few weeks, we have held consultations of our own and have spoken directly with people with learning disabilities, autism and unpaid carers.

We’ve now compiled these insights into a detailed report, which we’ve submitted to Parliament as part of the official consultation process.

Our findings show that the changes to PIP eligibility will leave vulnerable people without a much-needed source of income that helps cover the ‘disability gap’. The resulting impact on people’s financial, physical, and mental wellbeing will make it more difficult for them to engage with employment support and move into work.

If these changes go ahead, there will need to be significant investment into alternative provision – for instance, publicly-funded care – to ensure people do not go without the support they need.

The PIP assessment process as it currently exists needs to be reformed to better meet people’s needs. Autistic people, people with learning disabilities, people with mental ill-health and the unpaid carers we spoke to overwhelmingly feel that assessors and professionals do not understand their needs well enough, undermining the fairness of the system.

Read the report in full here