Adam Dance MP: Ministers must account for impact of benefit changes on disabled people

Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, Adam Dance, has criticised the Government for failing to assess how its Spring Statement benefit changes will impact people at risk of poverty in Yeovil and across Somerset.

In a Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Adam Dance asked what estimates had been made of the reforms’ local impact on benefit claimants at risk of poverty. The Minister’s response confirmed that no assessment has been carried out at either the constituency or local authority level.

Adam Dance MP said:

“At a time when thousands of people in Yeovil are already struggling with rising costs, the Government is pressing ahead with sweeping changes to disability benefits—without even bothering to check how they’ll affect local families.”

“That’s unacceptable. If ministers won’t measure the local impact of their decisions, how can they claim to be governing fairly or responsibly?”

According to the latest figures from the House of Commons Library, 5,771 people in Yeovil are currently claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the main disability benefit for working-age adults. This represents 7.9% of the local working-age population—above the South West average (7.5%) and just below the national average (8.1%).

A significant 36% of PIP claimants in Yeovil receive the highest level of support, reflecting the serious challenges they face in daily living and mobility. The majority of claimants in the constituency (nearly 40%) are living with psychiatric disorders—including conditions like anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and autism.

“We’re not just talking about numbers. These are real people—disabled people, carers, those with long-term mental health conditions—who risk being pushed even further into hardship,” said Adam Dance.

The Liberal Democrats have strongly opposed the proposed PIP cuts and wider disability reforms announced in the Spring Statement. The party is calling for a compassionate, evidence-based approach that protects people’s dignity and ensures support reaches those who need it most.

Adam Dance added:

“I will continue to speak up for disabled people in Yeovil and across Somerset. We need real investment in care, proper access to assistive technology, and a social security system that lifts people up—not pushes them down.”