Government changes to benefits bill - your voice mattered

On July 1, MPs voted to pass the Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - a deeply disappointing outcome for many disabled people and their families.

But your voice mattered. And together, we helped win some hugely important changes.

At the last minute – and following intense pressure from backbench MPs - the Government announced that any changes to the PIP eligibility criteria will now be delayed until after the PIP review led by Sir Stephen Timms is complete next year. This is a positive step, and we are pleased the Government has listened.

Your voices played a part in making that happen. 518 MPs received messages from you urging them to consider how changes to PIP would impact people with a learning disability – that’s nearly 90% of MPs. Of the MPs you contacted, 234 voted ‘no’ against the Bill out of 260 in total.

By taking action, speaking out, and contacting your MP, you helped people with a learning disability to be seen and heard. Thank you.

Mencap’s voice has been front and centre throughout this campaign . We were mentioned three times during the parliamentary debate, and the media has been alive with our message. From Liz Kendall being asked to respond directly to Mencap’s concerns on BBC Radio 4, to a front-page splash in the Mirror, we’ve been a leading voice in the national conversation on PIP and benefits.

This visibility is a testament to the power we have when we work together, and when we have your support.

We welcome Sir Stephen Timms’ commitment that the review into PIP will be co-produced with disabled people, ensuring their voices are at the heart of what comes next. Mencap will work to ensure that people with a learning disability are meaningfully involved in shaping the future of the welfare system.

But this is not the end. 

The Government still plans to cut the amount of money some people on Universal Credit receive - specifically those who would normally get the health part of the payment, known as the Health Element.

These cuts would hit new claimants from November 2026. With another crucial vote in Parliament next Wednesday, we’re urging MPs to protect this vital support and ensure people with a learning disability are not left behind.

Disabled people should not have to pay to fix black holes in the public finances . We’ll be working hard to make sure future changes to PIP are fair, sustainable, and shaped by the people who rely on it - because everyone who needs support should get it.

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