Contact responds to Welfare Reform bill vote

2 mins read

Tuesday 1 July 2025

Tags: disability benefits, welfare reform, personal independence payment, universal credit, carers


Tonight MPs voted on the Government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper, which proposes changes to make claiming Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit health element harder. Despite a lot of disquiet among MPs and lots of last minute changes, the bill passed.

Anna Bird, Chief Executive at disability charity Contact, said: “The families we support will feel despair and continuing fear after tonight’s vote. While the government made important concessions at the 11th hour, the chaotic way the bill was brought forward has added to a feeling of concern and lack of trust. It is essential the government follows through on their promise to listen and work with disabled people in their review of these proposals.

“Although there will be a review of the assessment for Personal Independence Payment we don’t know the outcome of that. And in addition new claimants for the Universal Credit health element who do not meet severe conditions criteria will still be receiving lower payments of that element which will also be frozen for 4 years. This is scheduled to happen from April 2026. So many people with disabilities and health conditions and their families will be substantially worse off. Our own research shows that families with disabled children are among the poorest in the country and 44% of parents of disabled children or their partners have a disability or health condition themselves. It is essential that the review fully understands the impact of these proposals on them and make positive changes that protect some of the most vulnerable in our country.”