Next week, parliament will be voting on the proposed Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which would introduce changes to the way people are assessed for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and health related Universal Credit (UC). These changes would mean some people receive less money from these benefits.
Kidney Care UK is strongly opposed to the Bill. We have written to MPs setting out our concerns and sharing the findings of our patient survey, which laid out very clearly why the proposed changes could have such negative consequences for people with long term conditions like chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thank you to everyone who completed the survey, which showed that 65% of PIP recipients expect to become ineligible should the Bill go ahead.
Key proposals in the Bill are:
- Limiting eligibility for the daily living component of personal independence payments (PIP) to those who score at least 4 points in one of the daily living assessment domains.
- Cutting and freezing the amount paid to people receiving Limited Capacity for Work related activity (LCWRA) element of universal credit (UC).
Kidney Care UK fully understands the need to reform the welfare system and to provide support for people with disabilities to access good work. The welfare system is currently too complex, stigmatising and does not reflect the needs of people with kidney disease.
However, reform of the system needs to take place in collaboration with people with disabilities and long-term health conditions like CKD. Any changes to health benefits must be informed by a comprehensive understanding of the impact on employment, health and wellbeing.
What happens next?
The vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill is due to take place on 1 July 2025.
A ‘reasoned amendment’ has been introduced which would stop the vote taking place. It notes that reform of welfare is needed and people should be supported to work where possible, but that the Bill should not move forward because it has not been developed with people with long term health conditions, will push many people into poverty and there has not been a proper assessment of its impact. We support this view.
Over 120 MPs have signed the amendment so far, and we are asking more MPs to consider signing. We need your help to do so, please follow the steps below to email your MP today.
Email your MP
Please consider writing to your MP today to ask them to oppose the cuts to PIP and the health element of Universal Credit.
We’ve drafted a template email for your MP for you, but please change it and personalise it so they know exactly what you think about this issue. Please do not send until you have added your name and address to your email.