Stuart Anderson MP has launched a new residents’ survey to inform his response to “emergency cuts” to welfare revealed in the Spring Statement. On 26th March, the Chancellor announced reforms to welfare expected to impact more than 3.2 million people and save £4.8 billion by 2029.
The cost of disability benefits, which currently stands at nearly £65 billion, is forecast to reach £100 billion by 2030. 2,000 claimants are being enrolled on to the welfare bill every day, with an extra 400,000 people expected to be added to it by the end of the decade.
This follows publication of the Green Paper on reforming benefit support, ‘Pathways to Work’, on 18th March 2025. It includes plans to restrict eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which are expected to see 800,000 people lose their entitlement.
Meanwhile, access to PIP will be delayed until the age of 22 - with savings invested in employment support and training opportunities. The Work Capability Assessments (WCA) will also be scrapped from 2028, with support for those with health conditions based on impact on daily living not capacity to work.
The Chancellor's Spring Statement included further, last-minute decisions to freeze and then halve the amount of support available via the health element of Universal Credit. This was announced after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated the original plans will save £3.4 billion, much less than what was expected.
Before the changes can be brought into effect, legislation will need to be passed in Parliament. Ahead of this, Stuart’s survey will gather local feedback on the changes, helping him to better understand the impact on residents. This will inform his response to the consultation, which is now open for 12 weeks until 30th June 2025.
The survey is part of Stuart's commitment to helping communities across South Shropshire, by listening to the challenges that residents face, supporting their concerns in Parliament, and delivering the changes that are needed to help them thrive.
According to the government's impact assessment, the reforms are expected to push 250,000 more people into poverty, including 50,000 children. The OBR has also predicted that unemployment will rise to 4.5 per cent with 160,000 more out of work than previously forecast.
This compares to the previous government which reduced unemployment from 7.9 per cent in 2010 to 3.8 per cent. It was equivalent to 800 new jobs a day. The number of people with disabilities in employment also rose under the previous government by two million since 2013.
This exceeded the commitment to get one million more disabled people into work by 2027 by five years ahead of the target date. The previous government also helped to get 400,000 children out of absolute poverty.
Since the General Election, unemployment has risen by 83,000 from 1.43 million - with 40,000 job losses since the Autumn Budget revealed £40 billion of tax hikes. In South Shropshire, 1,350 residents claim unemployment benefits such as Universal Credit.
It represents 2.6% of 16 to 64 year olds - almost half the national claimant rate of 5.6%. Yet, it has increased by 205 residents over the past year, from 2.2%. In South Shropshire in January 2025, there were 4,579 Personal Independent Payment (PIP) claimants. This represents 6.9% of working age adults.
Stuart has said the government's own impact assessment throws into question its ambition to raise the employment rate to 80%. He has added that meaningful change is needed to bring costs under control and ensure the support goes to those most in need.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“I am committed to supporting our local communities across South Shropshire, understanding the challenges they face and campaigning for meaningful change. In government, we slashed unemployment from 7.9 per cent in 2010 to 3.8 per cent this time last year. 4.1 million more people gained the security of a well-paid job, including two million more people with disabilities. The new government should continue to reward hard work. Yet, their tax hikes have led to 40,000 job losses and shattered confidence in the economy - with unemployment expected to reach 4.5 per cent. I will always do all that I can to ensure the most vulnerable get the support they need, while promoting improved access to the workplace. My survey gathers local feedback on how we can best reform the provision of welfare assistance so that the system is fit for the future whilst being fair to taxpayers in general.”
