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Disability Cuts Will Have Devastating Impact on Women's Health and Dignity

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Proposed changes to personal independence payments (Pip) eligibility criteria will disproportionately affect disabled women, ignoring fundamental aspects of their health and dignity. The new rules, set to be voted on by MPs, will require claimants to receive four points in a single daily living category, with washing below the waist scoring just two points. This will disregard menstruation, incontinence, and intimate hygiene needs that are often more acute for women with spinal cord injuries. Disabled women's organizations, including Scope, Spinal Injuries Association, Inclusion London, ME Association, and WinVisible, have warned that the proposals risk breaching the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed changes to Pip eligibility criteria will have a devastating impact on disabled women's health and dignity.
  • The new rules will disregard menstruation, incontinence, and intimate hygiene needs that are often more acute for women with spinal cord injuries.
  • Disabled women's organizations have warned that the proposals risk breaching the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.
  • The Pip changes will affect disabled women more severely due to their higher personal care needs compared to men, as 108 MPs have signed an amendment to halt the cuts in their tracks.
  • The existing Pip "majority of the time" rule may compound the discrimination against women, as menstrual symptoms can occur intermittently and may not affect a woman for over 50% of the time.
  • Disabled people rely on benefits to afford sanitary products, incontinence pads, and laundry, and the Pip changes will exacerbate personal hygiene and health issues.
  • Local councils have been treating basic hygiene as a luxury for some disabled women, and the Pip changes may lead to further degradation of services.

Statistics:

  • 100 Labour MPs have signed a Commons amendment to halt the cuts in their tracks, threatening Keir Starmer's majority.
  • 108 MPs have signed an amendment declining to give the welfare reform bill a second reading on 1 July.
  • The government's own impact assessment showed more women than men currently score fewer than four points on descriptors while getting a daily living award.
  • Hundreds of disabled people rely on benefits to afford sanitary products, incontinence pads, and laundry.
  • Disabled women are concerned that the Pip changes will leave them without vital personal care and financial support.

Sources:

  • Fringe Benefits: Disabled women's struggles as disabled women's rights campaigner ponders the strains of surviving in a world after austerity
  • The Guardian: "Tories must avoid poverty deepening for disabled people, say charities"
  • Public Sector Equality Duty (2010)
  • ME Association: "Pip's existing 'majority of the time' rule could lead to women losing eligibility"
  • Scope: "Pip changes will have devastating impact on disabled women"
  • Sisters of Frida: "Disabled women's group highlights concerns over Pip changes"
  • Department for Work and Pensions: "Government responds to concerns over Pip changes"

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