Ayaz Manji
@ayazmanji.bsky.social
Campaigner, policy person, and welfare rights adviser. Currently working on social security and employment with Trussell. Previously at Mind, Stonewall, and the Women & Equalities Committee. (He/Him)
Pinned
Three challenges for the Timms review
Last week, the Department for Work and Pensions published the revised terms of reference for the Timms review of PIP . In theory this is…
tinyurl.com
I've written about three challenges for the Timms review and what they might mean for campaigners, policy people, and anyone invested in making PIP better.
tinyurl.com/4kv4aa4j
tinyurl.com/4kv4aa4j
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
New Universal Credit statistics today show the % of claimants in the ‘no work requirements’ conditionality group has continued to rise to 49%, and the proportion in work has fallen to 33%. This is likely to be written up as ‘a rise in claimants not required to work’, but context is very important! 🧵
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
New Universal Credit statistics today show the % of claimants in the ‘no work requirements’ conditionality group has continued to rise to 49%, and the proportion in work has fallen to 33%. This is likely to be written up as ‘a rise in claimants not required to work’, but context is very important! 🧵
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
Unless DWP improves the clarity of its UC statistics by splitting out claimants who migrate from legacy benefits to UC vs those who make new claims, we're going to keep getting misleading headlines like this for the foreseeable future...
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Unless DWP improves the clarity of its UC statistics by splitting out claimants who migrate from legacy benefits to UC vs those who make new claims, we're going to keep getting misleading headlines like this for the foreseeable future...
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
The first question to ask whenever you hear a statisical claim about sickness & disability benefit receipt is 'has @benbgeiger.bsky.social posted on this yet?' and if the answer is 'no' wait until he has before commenting. inequalities.substack.com/p/have-new-w...
Have new WCA claims exploded in the last year?
Yet again, the DWP has been publishing data in a misleading way, making it hard to know what's going on...
inequalities.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The first question to ask whenever you hear a statisical claim about sickness & disability benefit receipt is 'has @benbgeiger.bsky.social posted on this yet?' and if the answer is 'no' wait until he has before commenting. inequalities.substack.com/p/have-new-w...
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
In AP v SSWP [2025] UKUT 330 (AAC) UT comments on common practice of DWP decision makers in Universal Credit of stating a claimant is not entitled to seek mandatory reconsideration of a decision because it is "policy" (typically that happens when challenge involves interpretation of a rule) (1 of 5)
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
In AP v SSWP [2025] UKUT 330 (AAC) UT comments on common practice of DWP decision makers in Universal Credit of stating a claimant is not entitled to seek mandatory reconsideration of a decision because it is "policy" (typically that happens when challenge involves interpretation of a rule) (1 of 5)
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
New blog out today, as part of our work with @healthfoundation.bsky.social, looking at the unequal health impacts of the current system of housing cost support that fails to cover people's rent.
As the #AutumnBudget approaches, we're calling on the Chancellor to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to support people on low incomes as private rents continue to soar.
Read more in our blog ⤵️
https://t.co/xTGMQRoFsk https://t.co/ijj5LHQyVC
Read more in our blog ⤵️
https://t.co/xTGMQRoFsk https://t.co/ijj5LHQyVC
November 5, 2025 at 9:18 AM
New blog out today, as part of our work with @healthfoundation.bsky.social, looking at the unequal health impacts of the current system of housing cost support that fails to cover people's rent.
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
Great report showing what we see all too often at Citizens Advice: work being used against people at PIP assessments
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Making the benefits system meaner has backfired.
The punitive PIP system is leaving disabled people too afraid to try work. It’s time to overhaul the broken assessment process.
Read our new report here: https://z2k.org/pip-report/
The punitive PIP system is leaving disabled people too afraid to try work. It’s time to overhaul the broken assessment process.
Read our new report here: https://z2k.org/pip-report/
Ending the Culture of Fear - Z2K
Ending the Culture of Fear: Reforming the PIP assessment system to get decisions right first time Much of the political and media debate about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has focused on the idea that it’s too easy to qualify. A new report from Z2K – Ending the Culture of Fear: Reforming the PIP assessment system
z2k.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Great report showing what we see all too often at Citizens Advice: work being used against people at PIP assessments
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
📢Young disabled people could face benefit cuts of more than £420 a month if government plans go ahead.
Young people deserve real support - not cuts that could push them into poverty.
New blog from me & @victoria-anns.bsky.social: medium.com/p/62015a6f0b12
Young people deserve real support - not cuts that could push them into poverty.
New blog from me & @victoria-anns.bsky.social: medium.com/p/62015a6f0b12
The government must cancel plans to cut disability benefits for young people
This blog has been co-written by Maddy Rose, Senior Policy Researcher, and Victoria Anns, Policy Researcher.
medium.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM
📢Young disabled people could face benefit cuts of more than £420 a month if government plans go ahead.
Young people deserve real support - not cuts that could push them into poverty.
New blog from me & @victoria-anns.bsky.social: medium.com/p/62015a6f0b12
Young people deserve real support - not cuts that could push them into poverty.
New blog from me & @victoria-anns.bsky.social: medium.com/p/62015a6f0b12
I've written about three challenges for the Timms review and what they might mean for campaigners, policy people, and anyone invested in making PIP better.
tinyurl.com/4kv4aa4j
tinyurl.com/4kv4aa4j
Three challenges for the Timms review
Last week, the Department for Work and Pensions published the revised terms of reference for the Timms review of PIP . In theory this is…
tinyurl.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I've written about three challenges for the Timms review and what they might mean for campaigners, policy people, and anyone invested in making PIP better.
tinyurl.com/4kv4aa4j
tinyurl.com/4kv4aa4j
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
This was very cathartic to write, and I'm grateful to @samfr.bsky.social for giving me the space to try and set out just why the two-child limit must go, and go in its entirety
[mini 🧵]
[mini 🧵]
New post out:
"The worst social policy ever"
Today we have a guest post from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on the abomination that is the two-child limit and why Labour need to scrap it ASAP.
Lots of data but also powerful testimony.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The worst social policy ever"
Today we have a guest post from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on the abomination that is the two-child limit and why Labour need to scrap it ASAP.
Lots of data but also powerful testimony.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The worst social policy ever"
We have a couple of bonus guest posts over the next week.
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This was very cathartic to write, and I'm grateful to @samfr.bsky.social for giving me the space to try and set out just why the two-child limit must go, and go in its entirety
[mini 🧵]
[mini 🧵]
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
Great to be at powerful @turn2us.org.uk report launch in Parliament today, alongside @jrf-uk.bsky.social colleagues! Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need support, and treat people with compassion, dignity and respect #StopTheStigma
October 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Great to be at powerful @turn2us.org.uk report launch in Parliament today, alongside @jrf-uk.bsky.social colleagues! Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need support, and treat people with compassion, dignity and respect #StopTheStigma
We've now heard repeated proposals from think-tanks and opposition parties about cutting PIP for people with 'low-level' mental health problems. None of these engage with the reality of how either PIP or mental health work.
October 29, 2025 at 10:44 AM
We've now heard repeated proposals from think-tanks and opposition parties about cutting PIP for people with 'low-level' mental health problems. None of these engage with the reality of how either PIP or mental health work.
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
UC & PIP bill proposes the biggest cuts to disability benefits since OBR was created. It would:
✂️cut benefits for 3.2m disabled ppl
📈Push 300,000-400,000 into poverty, including 50,000 children
📈 Drive 440,000 into severe hardship
New joint briefing: www.ucpipbill.co.uk
✂️cut benefits for 3.2m disabled ppl
📈Push 300,000-400,000 into poverty, including 50,000 children
📈 Drive 440,000 into severe hardship
New joint briefing: www.ucpipbill.co.uk
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill -
On Tuesday 1st July, MPs will be asked to vote on the UC & PIP Bill, which contains the biggest cuts to social security in a decade. This briefing from ten organisations including Scope, Citizens Advi...
www.ucpipbill.co.uk
June 24, 2025 at 11:10 AM
UC & PIP bill proposes the biggest cuts to disability benefits since OBR was created. It would:
✂️cut benefits for 3.2m disabled ppl
📈Push 300,000-400,000 into poverty, including 50,000 children
📈 Drive 440,000 into severe hardship
New joint briefing: www.ucpipbill.co.uk
✂️cut benefits for 3.2m disabled ppl
📈Push 300,000-400,000 into poverty, including 50,000 children
📈 Drive 440,000 into severe hardship
New joint briefing: www.ucpipbill.co.uk
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
As it's in the news again - this is the post I wrote a few months ago on why the disability benefits bill has been going up.
Essentially, you can't remove need by removing support - it just pops up as a cost somewhere else.
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Essentially, you can't remove need by removing support - it just pops up as a cost somewhere else.
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The definition of madness
Governments need to stop making the same incredibly expensive mistake over and over again
open.substack.com
June 24, 2025 at 8:33 AM
As it's in the news again - this is the post I wrote a few months ago on why the disability benefits bill has been going up.
Essentially, you can't remove need by removing support - it just pops up as a cost somewhere else.
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Essentially, you can't remove need by removing support - it just pops up as a cost somewhere else.
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
NEW: Analysis published by Trussell and WPI Economics today finds that planned cuts would put 440,000 people in disabled households at risk of needing to turn to a food bank. If the UK government doesn't change course, then this will be their legacy. 👇
June 9, 2025 at 7:50 AM
NEW: Analysis published by Trussell and WPI Economics today finds that planned cuts would put 440,000 people in disabled households at risk of needing to turn to a food bank. If the UK government doesn't change course, then this will be their legacy. 👇
A quick thread on how planned cuts to disability benefits will affect voters in Labour-Reform battlegrounds. (1/4)
June 4, 2025 at 7:21 AM
A quick thread on how planned cuts to disability benefits will affect voters in Labour-Reform battlegrounds. (1/4)
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
Heartening words from Work & Pensions Committee Chair, @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social.
“They have worked all their life and acquired a disability or a long-term condition, and they need that help. I would hope that if it happened to you or I, there would be a system there that is compassionate.”
“They have worked all their life and acquired a disability or a long-term condition, and they need that help. I would hope that if it happened to you or I, there would be a system there that is compassionate.”
DWP warned benefit claimants are dying of starvation
The Work and Pensions Select Committee is calling for the DWP to be made legally-responsible for safeguarding benefit claimants.
www.bigissue.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Heartening words from Work & Pensions Committee Chair, @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social.
“They have worked all their life and acquired a disability or a long-term condition, and they need that help. I would hope that if it happened to you or I, there would be a system there that is compassionate.”
“They have worked all their life and acquired a disability or a long-term condition, and they need that help. I would hope that if it happened to you or I, there would be a system there that is compassionate.”
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
MPs will be voting in June on legislation to cut disability benefits with very limited information from the UK government on what the impact of those cuts will be.
Citizens Advice has published analysis of what these changes means for the people we support
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Citizens Advice has published analysis of what these changes means for the people we support
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Pathways to Poverty: How planned cuts to disability benefits will impact the people we support
Pathways to Poverty: How planned cuts to disability benefits will impact the people we support
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
May 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
MPs will be voting in June on legislation to cut disability benefits with very limited information from the UK government on what the impact of those cuts will be.
Citizens Advice has published analysis of what these changes means for the people we support
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Citizens Advice has published analysis of what these changes means for the people we support
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Ahead of Liz Kendall’s speech today – a quick thread on why the welfare state isn’t collapsing and why deep cuts to disability benefits aren’t the answer. (1/9)
May 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Ahead of Liz Kendall’s speech today – a quick thread on why the welfare state isn’t collapsing and why deep cuts to disability benefits aren’t the answer. (1/9)
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
Work won’t cut it
New briefing for @citizensadvice.bsky.social by me and @beccastacey.bsky.social
We look at whether people losing PIP and UC income will be better off *if* they move into employment, if reforms were implemented today
Here's a quick 🧵 but spoiler alert: probably not
New briefing for @citizensadvice.bsky.social by me and @beccastacey.bsky.social
We look at whether people losing PIP and UC income will be better off *if* they move into employment, if reforms were implemented today
Here's a quick 🧵 but spoiler alert: probably not
May 20, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Work won’t cut it
New briefing for @citizensadvice.bsky.social by me and @beccastacey.bsky.social
We look at whether people losing PIP and UC income will be better off *if* they move into employment, if reforms were implemented today
Here's a quick 🧵 but spoiler alert: probably not
New briefing for @citizensadvice.bsky.social by me and @beccastacey.bsky.social
We look at whether people losing PIP and UC income will be better off *if* they move into employment, if reforms were implemented today
Here's a quick 🧵 but spoiler alert: probably not
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
I've done a NEW page on my website 🖥️
And I'm starting NEWSLETTER ✉️
If you are interested in the use of AI and other tech in how govts the world over administer the welfare state you should sign up!
Monthly-ish insights, analysis, gossip, thrills and more ⤵️
And I'm starting NEWSLETTER ✉️
If you are interested in the use of AI and other tech in how govts the world over administer the welfare state you should sign up!
Monthly-ish insights, analysis, gossip, thrills and more ⤵️
Digital welfare state: origins, controversies, research — ABD Consultancy
How are governments worldwise using AI and other tech to administer the welfare state? Find out about research, policy and investigations into the digital welfare state, including digital surveillance...
www.abdconsultancy.co.uk
May 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I've done a NEW page on my website 🖥️
And I'm starting NEWSLETTER ✉️
If you are interested in the use of AI and other tech in how govts the world over administer the welfare state you should sign up!
Monthly-ish insights, analysis, gossip, thrills and more ⤵️
And I'm starting NEWSLETTER ✉️
If you are interested in the use of AI and other tech in how govts the world over administer the welfare state you should sign up!
Monthly-ish insights, analysis, gossip, thrills and more ⤵️
Quick thread on new IFS research on the relationship between health and disability benefits claims. 👇
NEW: Longer NHS waiting lists do not appear to be a significant driver of the rise in health-related benefit claims.
@maxwarner.bsky.social & @benzaranko.bsky.social’s new report funded by @jrf-uk.bsky.social finds that the main explanation for rising benefit claims almost certainly lies elsewhere:
@maxwarner.bsky.social & @benzaranko.bsky.social’s new report funded by @jrf-uk.bsky.social finds that the main explanation for rising benefit claims almost certainly lies elsewhere:
May 2, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Quick thread on new IFS research on the relationship between health and disability benefits claims. 👇
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
"Pursuing policies that deepen poverty will only perpetuate the ‘managed decline’ that the government has railed against."
Read our Senior Policy Advisor's blog on how rushed disability benefit cuts will harm the government's efforts to achieve its missions👇
z2k.org/mission-crit...
Read our Senior Policy Advisor's blog on how rushed disability benefit cuts will harm the government's efforts to achieve its missions👇
z2k.org/mission-crit...
Mission critical: How disability benefit cuts threaten to jeopardise the government’s missions - Z2K
The government has set out five key missions which it sees as key to showing the British public that it is delivering on their priorities. Our Senior Policy Adviser explains how cuts to disability ben...
z2k.org
April 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
"Pursuing policies that deepen poverty will only perpetuate the ‘managed decline’ that the government has railed against."
Read our Senior Policy Advisor's blog on how rushed disability benefit cuts will harm the government's efforts to achieve its missions👇
z2k.org/mission-crit...
Read our Senior Policy Advisor's blog on how rushed disability benefit cuts will harm the government's efforts to achieve its missions👇
z2k.org/mission-crit...
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
I’ve written about how the government's cuts agenda conflicts with its employment agenda
Reducing the financial support that enables many to access employment will only create further barriers to work for disabled people
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/why-efforts-...
Reducing the financial support that enables many to access employment will only create further barriers to work for disabled people
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/why-efforts-...
Why efforts to get more disabled people into work are flawed
How the Pathways to Work green paper limits the government’s likelihood of getting more disabled people into work
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
April 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I’ve written about how the government's cuts agenda conflicts with its employment agenda
Reducing the financial support that enables many to access employment will only create further barriers to work for disabled people
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/why-efforts-...
Reducing the financial support that enables many to access employment will only create further barriers to work for disabled people
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/why-efforts-...
Reposted by Ayaz Manji
There was rightly concern last week when OBR & DWP documents revealed that £4.8bn of cuts to benefits for ill & disabled people would push 250k people into poverty, including 50k children
But @neweconomics.bsky.social analysis suggests the true scale & impact of these cuts will be even greater... 🧵
But @neweconomics.bsky.social analysis suggests the true scale & impact of these cuts will be even greater... 🧵
March 31, 2025 at 4:01 PM
There was rightly concern last week when OBR & DWP documents revealed that £4.8bn of cuts to benefits for ill & disabled people would push 250k people into poverty, including 50k children
But @neweconomics.bsky.social analysis suggests the true scale & impact of these cuts will be even greater... 🧵
But @neweconomics.bsky.social analysis suggests the true scale & impact of these cuts will be even greater... 🧵
Today's report from the National Audit Office shows just how far the whole Jobcentre system as it stands is geared up to first and foremost check people's compliance with benefits rules.
March 31, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Today's report from the National Audit Office shows just how far the whole Jobcentre system as it stands is geared up to first and foremost check people's compliance with benefits rules.