One important recent example is the work of the Commission on Social Security:

www.commissiononsocialsecurity.org.uk/additional-c...

There's rightly been a lot of focus on the importance of doing real co-production. And given the events of this summer I can understand why many will be wary. But any chance that the review will lead to a better system, relies on there being good ideas on the table.

We do need to see better support from the health and employment systems - but as many realised over the summer - there just isn't a way to cut billions from disabled people's social security without pushing thousands of people into severe hardship and food bank need.

4. Cutting support won't move people into jobs. The proposed PIP cuts over the summer alone would have drive hundreds of thousands of people into severe hardship. And analysis for JRF has found that there's currently 1 vacancy for every 7 people receiving out of work benefits.

3. PIP only records one 'primary condition' - but many people claim for multiple health conditions. When I was a welfare rights adviser it was incredibly common to be supporting people with long-term physical health problems, chronic pain and consequential mental health problems.

2. A person's diagnosis doesn't determine function. Anxiety and depression can be severe and debilitating. And at the same time people with other kinds of mental health problem with good treatment and support can live independently. There's no shortcut to avoid navigating that.

1. It's easy for critics cherry-pick symptoms like 'excessive worrying' and frame them as part of daily life. But PIP won't award points unless someone demonstrates their condition stops them from doing things like washing, dressing, leaving the house, or interacting with others.

You can see the full story here: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

We've already seen analysis of the Government's own impact assessments which shows that these cuts would push 300k-400k people into poverty. This new modelling looks at how many people will be pushed so far below the poverty line that they'll likely need to turn to a food bank.

Full story via @politicshome.bsky.social here 👇

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

That's 140 constituencies which based on current polling are vulnerable to going over to Reform, in which a very high proportion of voters will be directly affected by these cuts.

In some of these seats, a fifth of the working-age population stand to be affected. (4/4)