PIP (Personal Independence Payment) isn’t just another welfare benefit. It’s absolutely essential for disabled people who want to work and remain part of society. For so many, it’s the key to overcoming barriers and being able to lead the lives they choose, despite the many challenges they face. PIP helps cover the extra costs associated with disabilities, from getting to work to needing a carer to assist them throughout the day. It’s not just a handout, but a vital tool that allows disabled individuals to live with dignity and independence.

The importance of PIP cannot be overstated. It enables people to get into work, stay there, and contribute to society, instead of being stuck on the sidelines. It’s about providing an equal opportunity for disabled people to engage in the workforce, despite the physical and financial obstacles they might encounter. Without PIP, many disabled people simply wouldn’t be able to work, or would struggle to stay in employment. PIP helps level the playing field, enabling disabled people to live more independently and participate fully in society, just like everyone else.

Let’s be clear. PIP isn’t just a welfare benefit. It’s a tax rebate, of sorts, to cover the extra costs of living with a disability. These extra costs can include things like travel to work, adaptations to a vehicle, or even the cost of a carer to help with daily tasks. It’s about providing a fair chance for disabled people to access the same opportunities as non-disabled people. Without it, many would find themselves excluded from the workplace, unable to live a full and active life. It’s that simple.

That’s why proposals to make PIP harder to access or to reduce the amount available are so deeply concerning. These proposals are not just unfair; they’re actively harmful. They effectively deny disabled people their fundamental rights and their ability to be part of the workforce. At the heart of this is a basic issue of equality: every person, disabled or not, should have the chance to contribute to society and live a fulfilling life. By cutting PIP, we are saying that disabled people aren’t worth the same investment as others. That’s not just wrong it’s deeply unjust.

What’s even more troubling is the fact that this is happening under a Labour government. Labour has traditionally been the party of working people, yet now it seems willing to abandon some of the most vulnerable in society: disabled people. This isn’t just morally wrong, it’s economically misguided. PIP is an investment, not a cost. For every £1 spent on disability benefits like PIP, £2 is brought back into the economy. That’s right. PIP isn’t a drain on resources; it’s a smart investment. When disabled people are supported to work and contribute, they help grow the economy, create jobs, and pay taxes, which in turn benefits us all.

The message we’re sending when we make it harder for disabled people to access PIP is that their contributions aren’t valued. And when Labour, the party that claims to be the voice of working people, is complicit in this, it betrays its own values. Labour is supposed to fight for fairness, equality, and solidarity, but by cutting vital support for disabled people, they’re doing the exact opposite. This isn’t just a left-right issue. It’s about humanity, and it’s about doing what’s right.

It’s also worth remembering that Charles Kennedy once said we must be the “voice of the voiceless.” If the Labour Party turns its back on disabled people, it’s abandoning those who need a voice the most. Disabled people are already facing an uphill battle just to participate in society. Making it harder to access PIP isn’t just an attack on their financial security. It’s an attack on their dignity, independence, and right to be treated equally. If we can’t support those who face the greatest challenges, then what kind of society are we?

We also have to be honest about the economic impact. PIP isn’t just a cost to the taxpayer; it’s an investment into a more inclusive, productive society. Disabled people who are able to work and contribute bring value to the economy, and that should be celebrated, not penalised. The idea that cutting PIP would somehow save money in the long term is not just economically illiterate – it’s damaging to the very fabric of our society. Disabled people should be supported to work, not pushed out of the workforce. By reducing support for PIP, we risk losing the contributions of many skilled, talented individuals who simply need the right support to thrive.

The attack on PIP is a direct attack on the freedom, equality, and dignity of disabled people. It’s about telling them their worth is less than that of non-disabled people. It’s about saying their contributions aren’t valued and they don’t deserve the same opportunities. This is not just a policy failure. It’s a moral failure. We cannot allow this to happen. Disabled people deserve to live independently, work, and contribute just like everyone else. We must stand up for them and fight for a society that supports everyone, not just the able-bodied.

In the end, this isn’t just a political issue. It’s a human issue. It’s about recognising the worth of disabled people and giving them the opportunity to live the life they want. PIP is an essential lifeline that helps disabled people achieve this. We must not let the government, or anyone else, take that away. It’s time to stand up for equality, for fairness, and for the fundamental rights of disabled people to live with dignity and independence.

* Stephen O'Brien is a Liberal Democrat City Councillor in Sunderland.