Disability benefit cuts violate human rights even with concessions, MPs warned ahead of vote

The government’s plans for disability benefit cuts “fail on human rights checks” even with concessions, a leading charity has warned.

Amnesty International UK called the revisions to the welfare bill “nothing more than a superficial attempt to get MPs to vote through this cruel and harmful legislation”.

More than one million people will still lose financial support in the future as a result of Labour’s plans to slash the disability benefits bill.

Read more:

• It never crossed my mind I might need disability benefits. Now I don’t know where I’d be without PIP
• Starmer finally backs down on disability benefits cuts – but are the concessions enough?
• I’m a Labour MP and this is why I still can’t support the government’s disability benefits cuts

Additionally, 150,000 people will be pushed into poverty, according to the government’s updated estimates published on Monday (30 June).

It had previously forecast that 250,000 people would face poverty if the original plans had gone ahead, but charities estimated that as many as 400,000 would be plunged into poverty.

MPs are due to vote on the welfare reforms on Tuesday (1 July) after the Labour government faced a significant rebellion from more than 100 of its own party members.

It has confirmed a series of adjustments to the bill in an attempt to appease MPs – meaning that current claimants will, in theory, be protected from the disability benefits cuts.

However, there remain major concerns that the bill is being “rushed through without proper scrutiny”. 

Jen Clark, Amnesty International UK’s economic, social and cultural rights lead, said: “It will deepen poverty, entrench discrimination, and create a two-tier welfare system that cannot be justified under any circumstances.

“Freezing or cutting benefits for new claimants doesn’t prevent poverty, it pushes more people into it, while entrenching income inequality across generations. 

“These proposals are not human rights compliant. They are being rushed through without proper scrutiny, transparency or engagement with those who stand to lose the most.”

What are the concessions to the welfare bill? And whose disability benefits will be cut?

The concessions mean all existing PIP recipients will remain on the current system and the changes will only apply to new claims from November 2026. 

Current claimants of the health element of universal credit will also be protected from changes, as will those who have the most severe, lifelong health conditions.

However, current claimants could also be impacted in the future – for example, if people lose their PIP and then reapply, they will be reassessed as new claimants under the new criteria.

Those people who are considered ‘new claimants’ will have to score at least four points in at least one of the daily living elements of PIP to get that part of the benefit.

An estimated 430,000 future PIP claimants will lose an average of £4,500 a year even with the concessions, according to forecasts from charity Trussell. Meanwhile, 700,00 new claimants of the universal credit health element will lose an average of £3,000 per year.

Charlotte Gill, head of campaigns and public affairs at the MS Society, says: “We’re appalled that the government is choosing to rush through this reckless and harmful bill. It’s outrageous that MPs are being asked to vote for dramatic welfare changes, without having time to properly scrutinise their impact.”

Why does the government want to push forward with the disability benefit cuts despite opposition?

The government’s cuts will save around £3.5 billion. Ministers have repeatedly raised concerns about the growing welfare bill as a result of increasing numbers of people out of work due to long-term sickness.

Liz Kendall, work and pensions secretary, said: “We must build a welfare system that provides security for those who cannot work and the right support for those who can. Too often, disabled people feel trapped – worried that if they try to work, they could lose the support they depend on.”

She said this is why the government is “taking action to remove those barriers, support disabled people to live with dignity and independence, and open routes into employment for those who want to pursue it”.

The government is expected to fast-track a £1bn employment support package, which originally would not have been rolled out in full until the end of the decade.

“This is about delivering a fairer, more compassionate system as part of our Plan for Change which supports people to thrive, whatever their circumstances,” Kendall added.

How likely is the government to win the vote on disability benefit cuts?

It is understood that some Labour MPs who had opposed the bill are now supportive, but others have said they still cannot vote in favour of the disability benefit cuts.

Cat Eccles, MP for Stourbridge, wrote in the Big Issue that there are still “major concessions needed for myself and colleagues to support this bill, not rushed attempts at papering over significant cracks in the policy”.

Former government whip Vicky Foxcroft has also said the concessions are not enough, as have Nadia Whittome, Ian Byrne, Jon Tricket, Richard Burgon, Brian Leishman, Kim Johnson, Diane Abbott and Olivia Blake.

The government has to win the majority vote from MPs across all parties in order for the bill to pass to the next stage.

Gill, of the MS Society, said: “We urge MPs to use their power to prevent a disaster. The only way to protect disability benefits is to halt this bill immediately.”

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