Social security for all
****** Our online survey has now closed and our focus group sessions have finished. Thank you to everyone who has taken part. We will publish our initial findings in May 2025 and our final proposal in June 2025 ******
Statement from the Commission on Social Security - 20th February 2025
There has been some misleading media coverage about our project's work so we want to be very transparent that we are an independent project that has been working since 2018 to put together alternative proposals for the social security system, shaped by people who have experience using it. We have no link to the government or the DWP.
We are extremely upset and concerned that this misleading coverage has added to people’s concerns about the future of PIP. Everyone involved in this project has experience of the social security system and we know very well the harm and distress it can cause. We are also aware of the increase in inaccurate articles and headlines over the past few years which only add to the fear, confusion and distress around social security. The last thing we would ever want is for our work to become part of that and it has been very alarming to see how our consultation has been misrepresented and created further concern.
We want to create proposals for a social security system which puts those that use it at the heart of the design and implementation and we hope people will help us do this by taking part in the consultation. We believe this is important work to demonstrate to the government what a social security system which treats everyone with dignity, respect, and trust and provides a decent income would look like.
More information about the consultation can be found here.
Social security is there to support everyone in our society – especially when we need it the most.
But as times have changed, the government hasn’t upgraded and updated it to meet modern challenges.
We are a group of people with lived experience of the current social security system. In other words, we are experts in the social security system and what works, and what doesn’t.
Our groundbreaking project presents a blueprint for a new, progressive social security system that is based on respect, dignity and support and – crucially – provides enough money to live on.
The Commission’s work is based on
five widely supported principles:
🟡 Make sure everyone has enough money to live - and support extra costs like those related to disability and children.
🟡 Be clear, user friendly and accessible to all, involving people who have actual experience of the issues from all impairment groups, in creating and running the system as a whole.
🟡 Treat everyone with dignity, respect and trust, and the belief that people should be able to choose for themselves.
🟡 Be a public service with rights and entitlements.
🟡 Include access to free advice and support. Make sure people can access support to speak up, be heard or make a complaint.
Latest news and events
The Plan for a Decent Social Security System: Building Support event - In October 2022 we formally launched The Plan. You can watch a full recording of the event here, or read the article from Disability News Service here.
We build consensus by working with a large-scale network
Our network includes claimant/user-led groups, Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations, the third sector, advice workers, academics, trade unions, think tanks and individuals. We welcome involvement from anyone interested in building a better social security system.
Equality is at the heart of our project
Equality is key when looking at the Commission’s proposals - read more about the Commission’s position here.