Concerns welfare bill could 'worry people to death' in Cambridgeshire
It comes after MPs voted on the Government's welfare reforms last night
A Cambridgeshire service user has said a change to some benefits for disabled people in the county could "worry them to death".
The government's welfare reforms were voted through by MPs last night, despite last minute concessions on who would be eligible for some benefits, such as personal independence payment (PIP).
Ministers hoped a partial U-turn on the benefit cuts, which will protect existing claimants of PIP and the health element of universal credit, would win over Labour rebels.
"I think they need to have less benefits and more simplified benefits," Chris Dodson said.
"PIP is one of those benefits that seems to do some practical good for people and make a difference, and you can't mess about with that and worry people to death."
Last week, the Government softened the impact of its changes to protect some 370,000 existing Pip claimants who had been set to lose out following reassessment.
Some 126 Labour MPs had signed that previous "reasoned amendment" proposed by Treasury Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier, which would have stopped the legislation if approved.
'PIP is a lifeline'
Before the vote, a disability charity in Peterborough raised fears over the impact that welfare reforms would have on disabled people.
Chris attends Haddenham Social Hub, which as well as offering a place for people to socialise also provides financial support, such as help with household bills.
"For some people, PIP is a lifeline," he said.
"Such a huge percentage of the country's money is going into welfare; we just can't afford it in the long-term so they've got to do something to reel it back in, but I suspect they started with the wrong benefit and in the wrong way.
"I think they might have to look at the whole system because there are too many benefits and it's too complicated."