Vista and Mosaic 1898 raise concerns about changes to benefits and employment support for people affected by sight loss.
![[Image Description: Image of Liz Kendall stood in front of a Union Jack Flag. Image sourced from GOV.UK.]](/uploads/images/Liz_Kendall_Image.max-1000x1000.jpg)
Vista and Mosaic 1898 raise concerns about changes to benefits and employment support for people affected by sight loss.
As leading local charities working on behalf of people affected by sight loss and disability across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, we have raised concerns about proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) with Liz Kendall (MP for Leicester West and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions).
People living with sight loss and disability face additional, unavoidable costs. The rise in living costs coupled with recent benefit changes is adding to the pressure. Benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are a lifeline for people affected by sight loss.
Of the 25,000 people accessing PIP in the region, one fifth are likely to be sight impaired. Changes to the living component of PIP is causing the most anxiety for people with sight loss.
Changes risk denying people with much needed support, making life even harder for many and putting pressure on the NHS. People are telling Vista how this is affecting them and the impact these proposed cuts are having on their lives and wellbeing.
“When I heard the announcements about PIP my blood ran cold. I feel that we [people who are visually impaired] are easy targets.”
“We’ve had the winter fuel payment stopped for thousands of OAPs and now the living allowance cut will be the next thing and then an attack on the mobility part of PIP. I hope I’m proved wrong.”
‘As I’m sure many of you know claiming PIP is a long arduous journey over a long period of time when you first have to get over the long application form and then possibly have a face-to-face interview or a telephone consultation and then another long wait before you find out if you are eligible.’
If you’d like to take action, together we are supporting RNIB’s campaign to encourage affected individuals to write to their MP with their concerns. You can find more information here: https://change.rnib.org.uk/page/168340/-/1.
We’ve written to Liz Kendell sharing our concerns, in collaboration with the team at Mosaic. You can read more about their work here: https://www.mosaic1898.co.uk/.
We are here to help. Our support line is available Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm, and Friday from 9am – 4:30pm on 0116 249 8839. If you are concerned about how changes to PIP may impact you, please get in touch with our team.