The proposed UK government welfare reforms, particularly changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), are generating serious alarm among the 24,000 visually impaired people in Oxfordshire as well as nationwide. The potential shift away from cash payments directly threatens their ability to live independently and maintain employment. MyVision Oxfordshire is urging the Government to reconsider these proposals and how the PIP cuts will affect visually impaired people, and for individuals to write to their local MP.
A visually impaired woman trying out a £2,000 digital magnifier.
Why PIP matters
For those with sight loss, PIP is not a luxury, but a necessity. It funds crucial elements of daily life, including:
- Assistive technology: Enabling access to information and communication.
- Mobility aids: Ensuring safe and independent travel.
- Specialised transportation: Facilitating access to work and essential services.
Research carried out by Scope found that disabled people have an extra cost of £625 a year compared to non-disabled people, even with PIP. PIP means visually impaired people can live independently, travel with confidence, and use the technology that they need. These things also make it possible for them to access work.
What Mark has to say on PIP
Blind and visually impaired people are already living on extremely tight budgets, with many facing significant barriers to employment — only around 25% of blind and partially sighted people of working age are in work. The proposed changes to PIP risk pushing even more people with sight loss into poverty and putting them in an even more vulnerable position.
Instead of targeting essential support for those already at greater risk of financial hardship and social exclusion, the Government should be focusing on streamlining processes, improving decision-making, and making services more accessible and efficient. We need a welfare system that enables independence and dignity — not one that makes life harder for those who already face daily challenges, – Mark Upton, Chief Executive, MyVision Oxfordshire
The risks of the PIP cuts for visually impaired people
The proposed changes risk eliminating the flexibility that enables visually impaired people to manage their unique needs. Even in its current form, PIP often falls short of covering the true costs of assistive technology, mobility aids, and necessary transport.
This loss of flexibility will lead to increased social isolation, reduced employment opportunities, and a significant decline in overall well-being. Visually impaired people will be unable to purchase the correct equipment they need or pay for the transport they need to attend medical appointments or even go to the shops.
What can you do?
We encourage you to contact your local MP to voice your concerns, and help stop these damaging changes to people who need support. You can access a letter template on the RNIB website from the button below:
Email your MP and explain why the UK Government needs to urgently rethink its plans for PIP benefits:
If you have any concerns, reach out to us at info@myvision.org.uk or call us on 01865 725 595.
You can read more news around MyVision Oxfordshire and the Visually Impaired community in our Latest News section.
