The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Bill has cleared its Second Reading in Parliament, passing by 335 votes to 260, after the Government introduced last-minute changes to appease growing opposition. Mounting criticism from disability campaigners and over 120 Labour MPs nearly derailed the legislation, prompting the Government to delay key aspects of the proposed reforms.

Central to the backlash were changes to PIP, which many warned could deepen hardship for disabled people. In response, ministers announced that current recipients of PIP and the health element of Universal Credit will remain unaffected, with reforms applying only to new claimants. Still, disability organisations have dismissed these adjustments as inadequate.

A further concession was made with the announcement that no changes to PIP would occur before late 2026, following a comprehensive review led by Sir Stephen Timms. The review will include direct input from disabled people and focus on improving assessment accuracy, not reducing costs. Advocacy groups welcomed this development but warned that true reform must prioritise lived experience over financial cuts.

Critics argue the bill was pushed forward without key supporting evidence, including impact assessments and employment data. Campaigners say the reforms echo the harshness of past austerity measures and unfairly target disabled individuals to plug gaps in public spending.