Public Reject Benefit Cuts and Believe They Will Increase Pressure on NHS, New Polling Finds

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New polling, undertaken by More in Common in collaboration with Disability Rights UK and Get Yourself Active, finds that only 27% of the public support the Government’s proposed benefit reforms. The polling results display the stark public health implications of the cuts, with 45% of benefits recipients expecting themselves to be less healthy if their benefits were reduced or removed.

This new polling shows the potential knock-on effects for public health: 

  • 47% of respondents believe that changes to the disability benefits system will somewhat or significantly increase the number of people with long-term health conditions requiring NHS support.  
  • 67% of PIP recipients specifically use some or all of their payment to support their ability to be physically active, and 51% say they would be less active upon losing their payments.  
  • Nearly half of benefits recipients (45%) expect to be less healthy if their benefits were reduced or removed, with one third (34%) saying they would participate less in their community.
  • 49% of the public say that cutting benefits will make the health of Disabled people worse.

This will have a direct negative impact on our public services and job retention, both of which the Government has claimed it supports through these reforms. 

Our research was able to highlight the negative health risks these cuts are opening benefit claimants up to: 

Recipients of benefits like Personal Independence Payment saying that losing their benefits would negatively impact their physical and mental health: 

  • Nearly half of benefits recipients (45%) expect to be less healthy if their benefits were reduced or removed 
  • One third (34%) say they would participate less in their community 
  • Four in ten (39%) say they would be more lonely  

The polling also shows there’s no public support for the cuts, with many worried about its implications for the NHS: 

  • Only a quarter (27%) support the proposed changes to the benefits system  
  • 51% say that cuts to PIP and related benefits would worsen the health of Disabled people, with only 13% saying it would make them healthier  
  • 52% say that cuts to Disability benefits would increase the pressure being placed on the NHS 
  • 60% also say that the government should explore other cost-saving measures instead of reducing disability benefits 

This polling comes alongside a newly released report from the Get Yourself Active campaign, which demonstrates the drastic impact of benefit cuts and subsequent physical inactivity on Disabled people’s health and wellbeing.  

The Get Yourself Active campaign focuses on the importance of access to physical activity for Disabled people, which can improve well-being, decrease loneliness and have positive health outcomes.  

These benefit reforms, which were initially proposed in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, are due to be voted on in their second reading in the Commons on Tuesday 1st July.  

There has already been substantial opposition within the Labour Party over these cuts, with Government Whip Vicky Foxcroft resigning over the proposals. 108 Labour MPs have tabled an amendment to the welfare reform bill, calling for a pause to the reforms. This comes alongside the staunch campaigning of Disabled activists and organisations highlighting the disastrous impact of these cuts.  

Mikey Erhardt, Campaigner, Get Yourself Active said: 

‘This important research highlights what we all know – these dangerous cuts are putting the health of the nation at risk. We know that throughout society, working-class people are far less likely to have the time, money or opportunity to take part in physical activity they enjoy. This means that many of us are unable to achieve the positive impact on physical, social, and mental health that even a few minutes of physical activity a week can bring. 

Being active is everyone’s right, but this polling makes clear the stark implications for Disabled people and benefit claimants that would result from MPs voting through these reckless cuts. A less active nation is an unhealthier, unhappier one. The polling shows the government has no mandate for this course of action, with a huge majority of the public opposing the cuts and wanting the government to change course. We hope they listen – or that their MPs make sure they do by voting against the bill.'

You can download Get Yourself Active’s Report ‘The Impact of Welfare Cuts on Disabled People and Access to Physical Activity’ here. View it online here.