At breaking point: Navigating the reality of the disability benefit cuts
“The government put us all in the same box and we all have different conditions. I can be okay and then so drained from pain, there's no way I can work. When they start deducting, we won't survive. I don't know what we're going to do.”
Kath and her wife Viv, from Old Leek in Lincolnshire, face daily challenges that many of us can’t even begin to imagine. Living with multiple chronic health conditions, Kath navigates the uphill battle of managing her health, quality of life, finances alongside the rising cost of living.
Kath explains, “I have chronic degenerative disease of the spine and the discs. I also have fibromyalgia, lipoedema, in both legs and both arms and I have COPD and other bits and pieces. Just under two years ago, I got diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms on both lungs.”
Kath’s health is a constant struggle. Eight years ago, doctors predicted she’d be wheelchair-bound for life, but Kath refuses to let her health define her and she uses crutches indoors and a scooter or wheelchair outside. Still, as she puts it, "I’m in pain all the time."
Viv, Kath’s wife, had to give up her job to become her full-time carer during the pandemic, which left the couple reliant on Universal Credit, Carer’s Allowance, PIP, and ESA to get by. But the benefits system isn’t simple. Kath describes it, "You’re sort of getting in one hand but it’s getting taken off from the other." It’s a tough balancing act that leaves them with very little room to cover essentials like food, energy, and housing.
“At the moment, I get free prescriptions, which is lucky, because I have about 13 prescriptions each month, so you can imagine how expensive that would be.”
Eating healthily plays a huge role in Kath’s health so getting the right food is a big concern, "It’s a lot easier to go and buy processed foods and get more to survive on during the month than buy fresh," she says. For many families, the reality is that processed food is cheaper than healthy, fresh options. "I do think healthy stuff should be cheaper than the rubbish," Kath says.
But it’s not just the cost of food that’s weighing on them. The uncertainty around potential welfare cuts creates constant stress. Kath’s fear is real.
“The government put us all in the same box and we all have different conditions. I have to take a day at a time. I can be okay and then so drained from pain there's no way I can work because I don't know what's going to happen. When they start deducting, we won't survive. I don't know what we're going to do.”
Behind every policy decision, there’s a real person like Kath. A reminder that the people most affected by these decisions are often those who are already struggling. It’s a call to action for policymakers to think about the human cost of their decisions and ensure those who need support the most aren’t left behind.
