Bill Regarding UC and PIP Remains Significantly Defective
The UK government's decision to remove Clause 5 from the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (UC & PIP) Bill is being hailed as a victory for disabled individuals and everyone who might become disabled in the future. However, the Mental Health Foundation, alongside other charities, has expressed that despite some concessions made in the bill, significant controversial measures remain, particularly affecting the health element and eligibility criteria.
The key remaining issues include raising the eligibility thresholds for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), requiring claimants with physical or mental illnesses or disabilities to meet a higher standard of impairment and assistance needs to qualify for support. Furthermore, the health top-up payments in Universal Credit will be frozen until 2028, and halved for new claimants, although the top-up will be adjusted annually for inflation. This reduction in support particularly impacts disabled people under 22, who will lose access to additional funds.
The government dropped the proposed “four-point rule” for PIP eligibility after pressure, but many of the proposed reforms still risk disproportionately affecting people with fluctuating, neurological, or cognitive conditions, such as brain tumour patients. Concerns persist that these changes will worsen health inequalities and mental health outcomes by reducing financial support and making it harder for disabled people to maintain employment or access necessary care.
Lack of consultation with disabled people and their representatives has been a major criticism, indicating that the reform process has not sufficiently considered the lived experiences or needs of those affected. Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, has called the reforms to the benefits system 'counterproductive and cruel'.
The Mental Health Foundation looks forward to contributing to the Timms review of the welfare system, which the government may revisit the implementation of these measures following. The review needs to be bold, progressive, and focus on shaping the benefits system to help people not only recover but live a dignified life whether they can work or not.
In summary, while the four-point eligibility criterion was removed due to advocacy efforts, the Mental Health Foundation highlights that the bill’s remaining measures—higher eligibility thresholds, frozen or reduced health top-ups, and tightened access for young disabled claimants—continue to provoke serious concerns about fairness, accessibility, and the wellbeing of disabled people relying on PIP and Universal Credit. The Mental Health Foundation continues to express concerns about the measures in this bill, urging the government to reconsider its approach to supporting those with mental health problems and disabilities.
- The Mental Health Foundation, in agreement with other charities, has voiced concerns about the remaining controversial measures in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (UC & PIP) Bill, particularly those affecting the health element and eligibility criteria.
- The proposed changes in the bill, such as raising eligibility thresholds, freezing health top-ups, and tightening access for young disabled claimants, are seen as a potential threat to the fairness, accessibility, and wellbeing of individuals relying on PIP and Universal Credit.
- The Mental Health Foundation has posited that these measures risk exacerbating health inequalities and mental health outcomes for disabled people, as they may face reduced financial support, making it harder for them to maintain employment or access crucial care.
- The Mental Health Foundation has also called for the welfare system review led by Timms to be bold and progressive, focusing on shaping the benefits system to help people not only recover but live a dignified life, regardless of their ability to work.
- The Mental Health Foundation continues its advocacy, urging the UK government to reconsider its approach to supporting those with mental health problems and disabilities, ensuring programmes and policies address the lived experiences and needs of those affected.
