The Government has published its impact assessment which shows that welfare cuts will leave an estimated 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, in relative poverty. Our full response is included below.

We also responded to the welfare reform announcement made on March 19 2025 and you can read our full response here.

Mel Merritt, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the National Autistic Society said: “Even on the Government’s own maths, the impact of these cuts on disabled people will be huge, with one in five households with a disabled person ending up worse off by an average of £1,720. By 2030, 250,000 people and 50,000 children will be pushed into poverty. 

“Many autistic people rely on disability benefits for the basic costs of day-to-day living, with only three in ten autistic people in work and facing a 28% pay gap from non-disabled workers. We are calling on the Government to remove barriers that prevent autistic people who want to work from working, while making sure those who can’t work aren’t penalised. 

“We were fearful last week when these announcements were first made. This assessment confirms that disabled people will lose out because of these reforms. We will keep campaigning for the welfare support autistic people need to live happy, comfortable, powerful lives.”