11 July Update

At the third reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on 9 July, 336 MPs voted for it and 242 MPs voted against it. The Mitcham and Morden MP, Siobhain McDonagh, voted for it. The Wimbledon MP, Paul Kohler, was absent for the vote.

 
Here are the main outcomes:
 
Whilst we are pleased that the government has, for now, dropped the proposal to make it harder to get a PIP Daily Living award, we believe that it is unfair to reduce by about 50% and freeze until 2030 the amount of money received by new claimants of the Universal Credit Health Element from April 2026. We do not understand why those who voted for the Bill think that it is acceptable to change the benefits system in a way that means that people who become Disabled in the future will have less support than those who are Disabled now.
 
If you have any questions about or want to share your view on what is happening, please contact our Policy and Campaigns Manager, Pippa Maslin.
Email: pippa@mertoncil.org.uk
Call/text/WhatsApp: 07884 232391
 
 

8 July Update

We have written to both the Mitcham and Morden MP, Siobhain McDonagh and the Wimbledon MP, Paul Kohler, urging them to vote against the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on 9 July. 

 

3 July Update

The second reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was on 1 July. It was a chaotic debate. Last-minute changes were offered up to the MPs who had said that they would not vote for the Bill.

At the end of the day, 335 MPs voted for the Bill, and 260 MPs voted against it. The Mitcham and Morden MP, Siobhain McDonagh, voted for it. The Wimbledon MP, Paul Kohler, voted against it.

 

two cardboard protest signs that read - 'Disability rights are human rights #DontTakeThePIP' and 'No moral case for pushing Disabled people into poverty!'.

Photo: two cardboard protest signs that read 'Disability rights are human rights #DontTakeThePIP' and 'No moral case for pushing Disabled people into poverty!'

 

The next day, the government published some more information:

1. The government had wanted to make it harder to get a PIP Daily Living award by introducing a rule that would lock out anyone who does not score 4 points or more for at least one of the ten questions. However, it now says that no changes to PIP will be made until a review of the PIP assessment process as a whole is complete.

2. The government still intends to increase the Universal Credit Standard Allowance by 2.3% in 2026/27, 3.1% in 2027/28, 4% in 2028/29, and 4.8% in 2029/30.

3. The government had wanted to freeze until 2030 the amount of money that a person receives for the Universal Credit Health Element (otherwise known as ‘Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity’). However, it now says that existing claimants, terminally ill claimants, and claimants who meet the 'severe conditions criteria’, will see the amount of money rise in line with inflation.

4. The government still intends to reduce by about 50% and freeze until 2030 the amount of money received by new claimants of the Universal Credit Health Element from April 2026.

5. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, must present:

  • a report on the outcomes of a consultation on the proposed changes – specifically, a consultation with Disabled people, their carers, and organisations that represent Disabled people and their carers;
  • an impact assessment of the proposed changes, including details of the expected number of people who may be pushed into poverty, and details of how people’s health/social care needs and the demand for health/social care services will be affected.

6. The Office for Budget Responsibility must present a report on the potential effect of the proposed changes on employment.

7. The Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms, must present a report on his forthcoming review of the PIP assessment process.

8. Former John Lewis boss, Charlie Mayfield, must present a report on the role of employers and government in supporting employment of Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

9. The third reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill will be on 9 July.

10. Nos. 5-8 must happen before any changes to the benefits system are made.

The Merton CIL team at the rally at Westminster on 1st July 2025 Photo: Members of the Merton CIL staff team and a fellow campaigner at the rally at Westminster on 1 July 2025 

 

What We are Doing

We are meeting with the Wimbledon MP, Paul Kohler, on 10 July, to discuss the proposed changes to the benefits system.

We have reiterated our request to meet with the Mitcham and Morden MP, Siobhain McDonagh, to discuss the proposed changes to the benefits system.

 

What You Can Do

There is still time to contact your MP to let them know what you think. They work for you!

 

If you live in Wimbledon, you can use our letter template to contact Liberal Democrat MP for Wimbledon, Paul Kohler:

 

If you live in Mitcham or Morden, you can use our letter template to contact Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, Siobhain McDonagh: 

 

*Remember to add your name to the letter template before you send.