Speaking up for Middlesbrough: Our latest national submissions

This week, we’ve shared evidence from our frontline work to help shape two key national consultations—on disability benefits and SEND reform.

Our goal is simple: make sure the experiences of people in Middlesbrough are reflected in decisions that affect them.

Making PIP work for the people who rely on it

We contributed to the government’s Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), using real casework from the people we support every day.

We see firsthand that PIP doesn’t always work as intended.

Key issues we highlighted:

• Support needs are being missed
  People can lose out because everyday support—like prompting or supervision—isn’t properly recognised.
• Wrong decisions cause real harm
  Losing PIP often leads to debt, food bank use, and increased reliance on carers.
• The process is too difficult
  Applications are complex and stressful, especially for people with mental health conditions or limited digital access.
• Assessments aren’t always accurate
  We regularly see reports that don’t reflect people’s actual situations.
• Delays leave people without support
  Appeals can take months, leaving people struggling financially and emotionally.

What needs to change:

• A simpler application process
• Better-quality, fairer assessments
• Decisions that are right first time

Getting this right would reduce hardship and help people live more independently.

Improving SEND support for children and families

We also responded to plans to reform the SEND system, sharing what we’ve learned from our Benefits in Schools Project.

This work puts advisers directly into schools, helping families get the support they need.

What we’re seeing locally:

• Financial pressure blocks engagement
  Families struggle to focus on SEND support when they’re dealing with urgent money worries.
• Trusted advice makes a difference
  When families get consistent, face-to-face support, they feel more confident and able to speak up.
• Support often comes too late
  Delays in diagnosis mean children miss out on early help.
• Access isn’t equal
  Transport costs, language barriers and complex systems all prevent families from getting support.
• Money worries affect wellbeing
  Financial insecurity has a direct impact on children’s mental health.

Our recommendations:

• Put independent advice services in schools and family hubs
• Recognise the link between financial stability and wellbeing
• Improve early support, without relying too heavily on diagnosis
• Tackle transport and access barriers
• Make sure families are properly heard

Why this matters

Everything we’ve submitted is based on real experiences from people in Middlesbrough.

We’ll continue to use this evidence to:

• Challenge unfair systems
• Influence national policy
• Improve support for local people

Need advice or want to get involved?

If you or someone you know is struggling with benefits, debt, or accessing support for a child with SEND, you don’t have to deal with it alone.

👉 Get free, confidential advice from our team:
See our contact page to find out how to get in touch.

👉 Help us make change happen:
By sharing your experience, you can help us highlight issues and push for improvements to the systems that affect our community.

Together, we can make services fairer and work better for everyone in Middlesbrough.