DISABLED activist Ellen Clifford began her legal challenge against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) today over the government’s “disingenuous” consultation on tightening the Work Capability Assessment.

Ms Clifford, represented by lawyers from Public Law Project, appeared at the High Court in London for the first of a two-day hearing to argue that the consultation was unlawful as it did not properly explain the conditions of the proposed changes.

The challenge also argues that the primary motive behind the consultation, which ran for eight weeks in 2023, was to reduce spending on disability benefits rather than to get more people into work.

Disability rights campaigners affected by the proposed changes also held a vigil outside the Royal Courts of Justice today.

Ahead of the hearing, Ms Clifford said: “More than 400,000 people will be worse off by £416 a month if the changes proposed in this consultation go ahead.

“And then there is the risk that people will lose even more money if they are sanctioned for not being able to comply with conditions they will now need to fulfil in order to receive their benefits.

“To be blunt, this would be cataclysmic for deaf and disabled people in the UK and would push many into destitution.”

Ms Clifford said that despite the government’s commitment to put “the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all” they do and to “fully consult” on Work Capability Assessment reforms, “they have not answered important questions about what will happen to those 400,000 people who stand to be affected if these dangerous proposals are brought in.

“This [challenge] is a necessary first step in deaf and disabled people working towards a system that prioritises our lives, rather than cuts or savings,” she added.

“Going forwards, we hope there is real co-production in designing a social security system that is a benefit to society and which prevents rather than causes harm.”

The action has been supported by various groups, including the PCS union which represents DWP workers, Disabled People Against Cuts, and Unite’s Cut Sanctions Not Incomes campaign.

PCS national president Martin Cavanagh said that any changes “must be properly consulted on,” adding: “Our members want to help people, not punish them.”

The challenge continues on Wednesday.