Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K) is a charity that fights poverty in the UK. It helps people get the income they need and campaigns for fairer systems. Many of Z2K’s clients struggle to access disability benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The Challenge
Millions of disabled people miss out on benefits they are entitled to. In 2020–21, fewer than one-third of working-age disabled people received disability benefits, leaving many facing higher costs and greater risk of poverty. Z2K wanted clear evidence to show how disability benefits improve people’s lives and to use this in its campaigns.
The Approach
PBE collaborated with Z2K to produce a report led by economist Karol Rodriguez Cabrera. The project used data from Understanding Society (USoc), a UK household study that tracks participants over time to examine changes in their lives. The research explored how disability benefits relate to life satisfaction, using wellbeing valuation methods to show the wider impact of these benefits beyond just financial support.
“The relationship with the Z2K team felt truly collaborative. Their input helped us keep the analysis grounded in real experiences.” Karol Rodriguez Cabrera, Economist, PBE
Results
The report showed that disability benefits make a big difference to people’s wellbeing – going well beyond the cash value of the payments. Receiving PIP was linked to a significant increase in life satisfaction, valued at around £12,300 per person per year. Across all recipients, this represents an estimated £42 billion annual wellbeing benefit.
Impact
This evidence strengthened Z2K’s case for change, receiving wide media coverage in The Independent , The Guardian, Disability News Service and other media outlets as well as being referenced in a Scottish Parliamentary debate. * The findings were also presented to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), supporting policymakers to better understand how disability benefits influence quality of life, while also opening the door to incorporating wellbeing measures and assessing the wider wellbeing impacts of other welfare benefits. The research supported Z2K’s responses to government consultations and advocacy work.
The work was presented at the Understanding Society scientific conference and also published in a case study from Understanding Society
“The project allowed us to make a helpful economic argument about the value of disability benefits, to counteract the dominant media narrative that sees social security spending purely as a burden.” Samuel Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor, Z2K
*Why PIP and other disability benefits could actually boost the economy
*Disability benefits system good for the economy, economists say