Ceri Smith, Head of Policy at the MS Society, on behalf of the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), says: “This consultation is a cynical, political point-scoring exercise – which cruelly and unjustly targets disabled people, including those with MS. MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable, and PIP is a lifeline to many, helping to fund the extra costs of being disabled. In many cases, it can actually help people stay in work and maintain their independence for longer. 

“If the government truly wants a ‘stronger, healthier and fairer society’, they should start by addressing NHS waiting lists and fixing social care. Instead, this approach will punish disabled people and push even more into poverty.”