09 Jul 2025

by Rhidian Hughes

Joint Statement on the Universal Credit Bill

VODG joined Scope and over 50 other civil society organisations to urge the government to withdraw this bill and co-produce all disability benefits reforms with disabled people.

Joint civil society statement on the Universal Credit Bill

Wednesday 9 July 2025

We are coming together as organisations committed to fighting poverty, providing advice, and supporting and championing the rights of disabled people, their families and carers.

We’re urging the government to withdraw this bill and co-produce all disability benefits reforms with disabled people.  

MPs recognised the damage that was contained in the Universal Credit and PIP Bill. Plans to cut PIP have been paused, and the government review of PIP must undertake a genuine dialogue with disabled people where reform is centred on the rights and dignity that all disabled people deserve.

But the government is still making significant cuts to the health element of Universal Credit.

They will still plunge many more disabled people into poverty - over 700,000 people who are disabled or have a long-term health condition are set to lose an average of £3,000 a year.

The health element of UC exists because disabled people often face a double hit on costs. Day to day life costs more if you are disabled – which is the reason we have PIP. But also disabled people have reduced earnings and higher disability related barriers and costs to get into work. And this is the reason we have the health element of Universal Credit.

The Bill has been renamed the Universal Credit Bill and it is going to halve and freeze the health element for new claimants until 2029/2030. And on top of this the government is consulting on stripping away the health element for under 22s.

We’re calling on the government to:

Remove these cuts and co-produce all disability benefits reforms with disabled people.
Conduct an assessment on the impact on disabled people’s health and employment outcomes.

The committee stage and third reading are both on 9 July. There isn’t enough time for full parliamentary scrutiny. There is too much at stake for this part of the Bill to be rushed through. The Government needs to pause and consider fully the impact on disabled people. We’re urging the Government to withdraw this Bill and co-produce all disability benefits reforms with disabled people.  

New Economics Foundation

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

RNID

Sense

Z2K

Scope

Trussell

Mind

Endometriosis UK

One Parent Families Scotland

See Ability

Kidney Care UK

includem

The Scottish Pantry

We Care Campaign

BASW

Diabetes UK

Versus Arthritis

Turning Point

The Hygiene Bank

CMA

The Food Foundation

Huntington's Disease Association

Nourish Scotland

Shelter

Shelter Scotland

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

National Autistic Society

The Children’s Society

Women’s Support Network, Northern Ireland

Women’s Regional Consortium, Northern Ireland

Camphill Village Trust

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

WBG

RNIB

Stripy Lightbulb CIC

Quaker Social Action

The Mental Health Foundation

Oxfam

Young Tongues Global

Food Plymouth CIC

Neuroendocrine Cancer UK

Turn2us

Resolve Poverty

Disabled People Against Cuts

Independent Food Aid Network

Just Fair

Generation Rent

Young Lives vs Cancer

VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group)

Crisis

MS Society

Centre for Mental Health

Fuel Poverty Action Group

Disability Benefits Consortium

Disability Rights UK

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