Constant battle for Teesside woman as welfare system isn't fit for purpose
The Government's outlining a series of reforms today
Last updated 18th Mar 2025
The sister of a Teesside woman with complex needs says she is having to constantly fight because the welfare system is not set up properly.
It comes as the Government is outlining a series of reforms today with eligibility criteria potentially being tightened meaning possible cuts.
Maxine Freer is from Great Ayton and she runs Female Founder UK across the Tees Valley but at the same time, she is her sister's carer. 58 year-old Heather McCann is non-verbal and is on the extreme spectrum of autism.
She says her sister is in receipt of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and other benefits and any changes could have a negative impact.
Maxine said: "Heather's in receipt of a number of benefits and the PIP payment is one aspect. Now that money goes into Heather's cost of living so we have to be able to pay her care home fees, her personal care so that's things for Heather to buy toiletries. Heather's total income doesn't exceed £1,200. It's quite limited income.
"What the Government's proposing to review, the care system and payment system, you know I advocate for that but I've also seen myself battle with social services, public health authorities and clinical commissioning care groups. I've seen myself really be at cross purposes with them when they've threatened to take Heather's funding away.
"Part of what we need to consider is how do we educate, form and inspire our business community to understand the neurodivergent agenda? To make reasonable adjustments in the work place so that people can go to work? And if they have barriers in the workplace, how do we break those down where they can go to work and the business can benefit from them.
"Heather has reviews continuously so I've seen all aspects of the care system and what seems to happen now is there's an evidence gathering exercise to meet the criteria of form filling, outputs and income, as opposed to really looking at a centered personal approach.
"I've actually had to battle with social services, funding bodies and I've had to bring them around the table and I've had to articulate Heather's case and in some cases, I've actually had to bring Heather in to the meetings and it's only when they then meet Heather, they realise she doesn't fit one tick box, she fits lots of them.
"There's a piece of work that needs to be done from teachers and education, the voluntary sector and then the workplace. If we could join those dots in a much harmonised way to navigate life then I would believe that we would see a future where we'd have less people depending on the system for financial support."
MAIN is an autism and neurodivergent support charity based in Middlesbrough and Durham, helping people and their families across the Tees Valley.
Heather Whyman, chief executive, said: "I'm really deeply concerned about the potential impact these cuts could have on our vulnerable individuals across the board, including those who are neurodivergent. The welfare system is a lifeline for many people. These cuts could undermine the financial stability and security of so many people that depend on it, including health care, education and employment support.
"I believe it's essential to recognise neurodivergent people already face significant barriers in accessing services and these cuts will only exacerbate circumstances and make it more challenging for those individuals.
"If these cuts were implicated, we expect to see a significant rise in the demand of services and support we provide. Charities like ours often serve as a crucial and critical safety net, but we're already seeing a growing strain on our services.
"It isn't just the individual, it's their family, it's that support network around them as well. It's not fair to add more pressure on to people and to cause more financial strain and mental health issues. While we're committed to doing everything we can, we're aware that there are certain things we won't be able to do so please reach out.
"We would rather see the Government look at how they could invest and strengthen the welfare system, be more proactive in the way that they deal with people and look at what's happening behind that person. People don't want to be on welfare, don't want to be in this situation andthey really, really deserve to live a life that where they're able to thrive.
"We'd also advocate for an increase in funding for healthcare, education and social services. It's a real worry that the social care reform is happening and how that's going to impact, especially on our neurodivergent community.
"It's not going to be good. It's not going to be a positive outcome for many neurodiverse people because they already strugge to get their voice heard. Please let's think about individuals rather than just a welfare system. There's people behind that."
Reforms to welfare system
A Treasury minister's playing down talk of a Labour rebellion, about proposed changes to reform the welfare system to cut costs, and get people back into work.
The Government says the current approach is not sustainable.
Some Labour backbenchers are "jumping to conclusions" about expected reforms to the welfare system before the plans are confirmed, a Treasury minister has suggested.
Emma Reynolds, the economic secretary to the treasury, urged MPs to be "patient" amid mounting backbench discontent over changes expected in the coming days.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to set out plans for reform today in an effort to get more people back to work and cut the cost of a benefits bill described by ministers as "unsustainable".
Several backbenchers have expressed frustration to the PA news agency at a lack of communication from ministers, with one describing "engagement sessions" held by Number 10 as a "tickbox exercise" and another saying many of their colleagues had made it clear they would vote against such proposals.
Reports suggest the scale of the backlash has prompted a rethink of rumoured plans to freeze the level of personal independence payment (Pip) rather than increase it in line with inflation, delivering a real-terms cut to 3.6 million claimants.
But other backbenchers have expressed anger that proposals such as the Pip freeze had leaked out, suggesting to PA this had been done in "bad faith" before anything had been agreed by Ms Kendall and the Treasury.
Ms Reynolds suggested that it is "everyday business" for the Government to have discussions with backbenchers around policy.
Asked whether MPs should fall in line, the Treasury minister said: "We have a big majority, we are a Government that secured a mandate for change.
"It is absolutely everyday business that we should have discussions with backbenchers, meetings between our MPs and ministers happen all day, every day. So this isn't something that is any different, but we're determined to strike the right balance here.
"We've got to reform a system that is failing everybody, and we've got to do that according to our values."
Ministers insist that reform is necessary given the number of people in England and Wales claiming either sickness or disability benefit has soared from 2.8 million to about 4.0 million since 2019.
The benefits bill has risen with this increase, reaching £48 billion in 2023-24, and is forecast to continue rising to £67 billion in 2029-30 - a level that would exceed the current schools budget and which the Government regards as unsustainable.
Ms Reynolds said on Monday that there will "always be a safety net for the most vulnerable".
On Sunday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting had suggested there has been "an overdiagnosis" when it comes to mental health conditions.
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