Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about the Government’s proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and its impact on people with arthritis. You can read my full response to the Government’s PIP reform proposals here.
When it comes to arthritis specifically, there are several programmes currently in place to support people with musculoskeletal conditions to start, stay, and succeed in work. These include the Work and Health Programme, Access to Work grants, and the Disability Confident employer scheme.
In the Government’s original version of its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, it proposed changes that would have made it more difficult for people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions to qualify for PIP. Although the Government has U-turned on these proposals due to a lack of parliamentary support, it is important that any future reforms are developed in close consultation with medical professionals and relevant organisations. This is particularly important given the fluctuating nature of conditions like arthritis, which can be challenging to assess through standardised criteria.
Under the previous Conservative Government, several initiatives were introduced as part of a £400 million funding investment package to support employers and reduce health-related worklessness, with measures such as embedding tailored employment support within musculoskeletal health services.
These efforts formed part of a broader strategy to modernise the welfare system and ensure that support is targeted effectively, while helping people with long-term conditions like arthritis to live more independent lives.
Thank you again for getting in contact.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Fuller MP