The Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) is once again attempting to placate Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs), under the guise of being transparent about welfare and employment reform – but this time it’s coming from the top. Yet this time, in a meeting with groups, the DWP has revealed it’s scrapping a crucial report into so-called benefit ‘reforms’.
Previously, the Canary reported that minister for disabled people Stephen Timms had been holding regular meetings with DDPOs, with the aim of making it appear that the DWP are listening to and working with disabled people.
However, as one attendee previously told the Canary, it’s clear from the meetings that it’s very surface-level and he’s in fact unwilling to accept just how much cuts would affect disabled people.
McFadden bullshitting disabled people’s orgs
This week, co-chairs of DPO Forum, which includes organisations such as Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Inclusion London, DPAC, and Disability Rebellion, attended a meeting with the new DWP boss Pat McFadden.
As campaign group Disability Rebellion shared on Twitter, McFadden appeared to be as much of a mixed bag as Timms, with lots of attempts to placate and attempts to slip bigger news out quietly:
The co-chairs of DPO Forum England recently met with the Pat McFadden (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions). Here’s a brief overview of what was said in the meeting:
No White Paper – issues will be dealt with individually- they will publish or make statements on different…
— Disability Rebellion (@DRDisabilityReb) October 28, 2025
The biggest piece of information is that despite DDPOs anxiously awaiting a White Paper on DWP welfare reform and employment, Labour has cancelled this. This paper was expected to detail how and when exactly the Work Capability Assessment would be abolished, with eligibility for the health component moving from Universal Credit to PIP.
However as Benefits and Work pointed out:
This whole concept was based on the expectation that the PIP 4 point rule would drastically cut the numbers entitled to PIP daily living.
Of course, the PIP cuts had to be abandoned by the government in a last-ditch attempt to push through benefits cuts back in July after a rebellion in the Labour ranks. So, as there, for the moment, no changes to PIP eligibility, moving the WCA to PIP would not result in the drastic cut to claimants that the DWP had promised.
New DWP strategy of reform announcements: overwhelm activists and media
There was no update on what will happen with the WCA, but instead of one big White Paper, the DWP will instead be publishing statements on different issues on an individual basis. Seemingly, though, what this will mean is that instead of one big report that can be dissected easily, the publishing of many statements will mean it’s harder for campaigners to unpick and raise issues with changes. It could also lead to less scrutiny from the press, as with many announcements, something is bound to be missed.
McFadden also said that whilst issues such as benefit changes for younger people and contributory ESA would require legislation, others like Access to Work would not. Which is lucky for the DWP because they’ve been sneaking Access to Work changes out for months now.
Some good news is that the DWP chief said there were as yet no plans to stop under 22s receiving Universal Credit, which is in direct opposition to what the government were saying when the now Universal Credit bill was being rushed through in the summer.
DDPOs need to realise they’re only being invited to make the DWP look good
Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People said
It would seem they are less confident in their policy ideas and their chance of success after we defeated their PIP changes.
Which may have been one of the reasons for the meeting, the forum impressed the importance of including disabled people in the design of policies, but by holding these meetings the DWP can technically say they are doing that.
Last month it was unclear how much longer DDPOs could continue to work with the government, with many activist privately expressing their fears of becoming collaborators in the government’s plans if they continue to meet with the DWP.
That’s why I’m once again airing my concerns that so many DDPOs are still meeting with Timms and now McFadden. In my opinion, whilst I can see why disabled organisations want to be involved in this, if they’re not loudly opposing the government’s plans at every step, what’s the point of these meetings?
It’s far more important to stand firm in your beliefs than it is to be in a room where people only invite you to tick boxes.
Featured image via the Canary
This post was originally published on Canary.