Concessions and the Second Reading: The Aftermath

After the chaos, what remains of the original bill? Is there anything left to worry about? Unfortunately, there is.

The controversial personal independence payment (PIP) four-point rule – denying the daily living component to anyone who has not got at least four points under at least one activity – has been removed. For now. Changes to the PIP eligibility activities and descriptors will be considered in a review of the PIP assessment led by the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms. The Government are committed to concluding the review by autumn 2026. This review may well re-introduce the four-point rule. Some political commentators doubt that this will happen because it would be a deranged thing to do – bearing in mind the political fall-out of the last couple of days. But I would not be so sure. How can we trust the Government's word after the last few weeks?

The dramatic cut to the disability support in universal credit remains in the bill. The four-year freeze to the amount paid to both new and existing claimants has been removed, and the cut will only apply to new claimants – with protection in place for terminally ill claimants and those with severe lifelong conditions. But the vast majority of new claimants will face the cut. This will be just over £200 a month – a reduction to the disability support of almost half. We will have a two-tier system. Debt and poverty are already a fact of life for existing universal credit claimants, with many unable to afford essentials. Factor in the high additional cost of disability, the cut will make a grave situation much, much worse. 

We will continue to resist this bill before it's third reading on Wednesday 9th July, 2025. Read our full statement in response to the second reading vote. Write to your MP to oppose these changes.

2 July 2025