Tories set to call for PIP face-to-face assessments on all claims as part of new DWP reforms
Reasons your Universal Credit may be cut by DWP
The Conservatives will try to change the Labour Government's welfare Bill this week to tighten up access to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit. Kemi Badenoch will pledge that the Tories are 'now the only party committed to serious welfare reform' after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shelved plans to restrict eligibility for PIP in the face of a backbench revolt last week.
The Tories will look to lay amendments to the legislation - renamed the Universal Credit Bill - and party leader Mrs Badenoch is due to deliver a speech on welfare on Thursday.
Among the amendments the Conservatives will propose is a requirement for eligibility for PIP to be determined by a face-to-face assessment only, rather than remotely by telephone or video call.
As part of the UK Government's reforms, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has proposed a new 'severe conditions criteria' for Universal Credit.
Claimants in this category will be entitled to a higher rate of the benefit, and will not be routinely reassessed to receive payments.
Another of the Conservatives' amendments would prevent somebody from being classed as having a severe condition for the purpose of universal credit only by having anxiety, mild depression, or ADHD.
The third amendment would block the increase in Universal Credit and restrict PIP for some people who are not British citizens.
In her welfare speech, Mrs Badenoch is expected to say that the Conservatives are 'the only party that is prepared to take the tough decisions to get spending under control'.
'I have no doubt that, emboldened by their success in forcing Starmer to U-turn last week, Labour's backbench MPs will now be eyeing up more concessions,' she will say.
The original welfare proposals had been part of a package that ministers expected would save up to £5 billion a year, and economists are now warning that tax rises are likely to plug the gap left by the concessions to rebels.
On Friday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted that the fallout over the UK Government's welfare Bill had been 'damaging' and did not rule out tax rises in the Autumn Budget.
The DWP confirmed no changes will be made to PIP until a review of the current assessment process has been completed.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms will co-produce the review with disabled groups and charities, which is expected to be completed next year.
Sir Stephen announced the climbdown in the middle of the debate on the legislation in Parliament on July 1. He acknowledged 'concerns that the changes to PIP are coming ahead of the conclusions of the review of the assessment that I will be leading'.
Sir Stephen said the UK Government would now 'only make changes to PIP eligibility activities and descriptors following that review', which is due to conclude in the Autumn of 2026.
The Scottish government has said people on Adult Disability Payment will not be affected by changes to PIP.
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The commissioner said in recent years she has seen a change in children's comments, noting that issues traditionally seen as 'adult' concerns 'are now keenly felt by children, who see their parents' worries and the struggles they face: the hours they work, the homes they live in and the ability to put food on the table'. She added: 'Children shared harrowing accounts of hardship, with some in almost-Dickensian levels of poverty. 'They don't talk about 'poverty' as an abstract concept but about not having the things that most people would consider basic: a safe home that isn't mouldy or full or rats, with a bed big enough to stretch out in, 'luxury' food like bacon, a place to do homework, heating, privacy in the bathroom and being able to wash, having their friends over, and not having to travel hours to school.' 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A Government spokesperson said: 'We are determined to bring down child poverty. We've just announced a new £1 billion package to reform crisis support, including funding to ensure the poorest children do not go hungry outside of term time. 'This comes alongside the expansion to free breakfast clubs, investing £39 billion in social and affordable housing, increasing the national minimum wage and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions. 'As part of our plan for change, the Child Poverty Taskforce will publish an ambitious strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully-funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country.'
