Government vote on the proposed Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit

Surrey Coalition of Disabled People’s comment following the government vote on the proposed Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit.

The concessions that were announced earlier this week and during the debate in parliament, stating that existing claimants of PIP and Universal credit would be unaffected by the proposals is absolutely the correct course of action. Future claimants of PIP will also be unaffected. However, we’re still extremely concerned that cuts to the health top-up of Universal Credit for people newly disabled after April 2026 will plunge many Disabled people into poverty. 

It will create inequity across the country, people with the same or similar disabilities or conditions receiving different levels of support. Disabled people have higher costs than non disabled people. Recent research by Scope has found that disabled households need an extra £1,095 each month. This is just to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households. Disability Price Tag 2025 | Disability charity Scope UK 

We welcome the review by Sir Stephen Timms, we believe that this should be coproduced with disabled people organisations. Surrey Coalition of Disabled people are very happy to be involved with this and hope to influence a positive outcome for all disabled people both now and for those who need the support in the future. 

The proposals and changes are very confusing and unclear currently. We are aware that the bill is returning to parliament on 9 July and are keeping up to date on the changes as they are made.