"Everything is already a struggle": Waiting for the cuts

I’ll begin by saying that there is a lack of clarity about what exactly is going to happen or when it’s going to happen. You hear the news, and see social media posts, but there is no real communication about what’s going on. And when you’re anxious, when you’re on the edge, you feel like every single thing that isn’t in your plan or that takes you by surprise is harder to deal with - because it builds upon the anxiousness you already have and the trauma you’ve suffered.

In addition, if, like in my case, you are a single parent living without any family or friends for support, if you have moved away from everything because of domestic violence, it is really hard to keep up with everything that’s going on because you’re already running on a high level of stress. So, adding more stress and more things to be concerned about – like cuts to disability payments – is really difficult, and actually feels very inhumane.

It feels like the system lacks empathy for people, or why would they be targeting the most vulnerable? People who are already under pressure – on the borderline – where everything is already a struggle, living from day to day, stuck, just trying to meet basic needs and manage everyday strains. Adding more stress onto people like this is just not practical because there is no support available for people to go and ask for help. All the services are stretched – medical, supporting organisations, and charities are at full capacity already.

So where do people go? It’s an added pressure on them. They’re already on a day-to-day level of very high stress, and this impacts their mental and physical health. And if you have a disabled person in the house, or you have a disabled child in the house, that household is running very high on stress, very high on anxiety. Every day and every moment is highly unpredictable. It’s demanding. It’s challenging.

The second stage reading of the welfare bill was passed in parliament last night (1st July 2025), but planned cuts to PIP are postponed until after a review due in autumn 2026. While I am relieved that there are no immediate cuts, I still feel like I am suspended, and the uncertainty surrounding all of this has – and will - cause many a sleepless night.