**DWP’s Liz Kendall Offers Reassurance to Benefit Claimants as Universal Credit and PIP Overhaul Faces Scrutiny**
In a recent update, Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, sought to calm anxieties among millions of benefit recipients regarding the forthcoming changes to Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) set for next November. Her reassurance comes amid mounting debate about the government’s proposed welfare reforms, which the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates could deliver savings of up to £5 billion annually.
Kendall informed Members of Parliament on Monday that immediate alterations to PIP are not on the horizon, and she emphasised that nine in ten existing claimants should see no change to their payments when the new legislation is enacted. Her guarantee is a response to concerns raised over the impact of these changes on some of the nation’s most vulnerable people, with roughly 3.7 million individuals currently receiving PIP.
During a session in the Commons dedicated to DWP oral questions, the primary worry voiced related to those who might lose their daily living entitlement under the amended criteria. John Milne, a Liberal Democrat MP, highlighted that around 150,000 people who receive Carer’s Allowance could see this support stopped, potentially costing some families up to £8,000 per year—a blow that could disproportionately affect households already grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, responded by acknowledging these concerns and outlining a range of mitigating actions under consideration. He explained that the department is actively seeking input on supplementary aid for those who would lose Carer’s Allowance, especially regarding their health and care necessities. Sir Stephen further clarified that DWP plans to extend a 13-week run-on of PIP payments for individuals impacted by a decision change, helping them to adapt to their altered circumstances.
Parliamentary debate over the government’s welfare agenda is set to intensify, as the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill approaches its second reading next week. In a clear display of unease within Labour ranks, more than 100 MPs have attached their signatures to an amendment seeking to halt the progress of the Bill, underlining the scale of internal party dissent facing Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
The proposed amendment, listed in Parliament’s order papers for 1 July, underscores the urgency for reforming the social security system but raises alarm over the predicted consequences. The government’s own analysis reportedly suggests that up to 250,000 individuals—including approximately 50,000 children—could be pushed into poverty as a direct result of the changes. The signatories argue that formal and meaningful consultation with disabled people, among the groups potentially most affected, has not yet taken place.
Another point of contention centres on the timing of an official analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility, which will detail the reforms’ anticipated impact on employment. This critical document is not expected to be available until the autumn, leaving some MPs frustrated at being asked to back reforms without access to all relevant evidence.
The amendment has been backed by prominent Labour figures, including Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the influential Treasury Select Committee, and Debbie Abrahams, who leads the Work and Pensions Committee. Abrahams has urged ministers to reconsider the legislation, highlighting the lack of engagement with disabled people and the absence of key impact assessments, concluding, “We’re asking the government to pause, reflect, and consult more widely.”
Ministers, meanwhile, defend the reforms as financially responsible measures that could help rebalance the UK’s welfare budget for the longer term. However, the future of the proposed legislation may hinge on whether the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, allows debate on the amendment during the Bill’s second reading.
Amid these political manoeuvres, the government has opened a public consultation on its proposed changes, inviting interested parties to provide feedback over a 12-week period. Details, as well as accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper, are available via the GOV.UK website, with the window for responses closing at 11:59pm on 30 June 2025. This process offers a channel for benefit claimants, advocacy groups, and the public to make their voices heard as the welfare reform debate continues.