Mind welcomes concessions, but says benefits bill still "fatally flawed"
The UK government has announced a series of changes to its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) bill, in advance of its second reading in parliament next week.
These include protecting current claimants from proposed cuts to benefits, including PIP, but will still mean significant restrictions for future claimants.
Responding to the latest changes, Jemima Olchawski, Executive Director of Social Change at Mind, said:
"These changes will bring huge relief to the hundreds of thousands of disabled people, including those with mental health problems, currently receiving these benefits. It’s right the government has listened to the concerns of disabled people, MPs, charities and others and acted.
"But this bill remains fatally flawed. If current protections are right for disabled people now, why are they not right for disabled people in the future?
"Next week MPs are being asked to vote on a bill without knowing the full impact of the changes; they are being asked to vote without having seen the outcome of the consultation on changes to the PIP assessments; and they are being asked to vote on a bill that risks pushing disabled people in the future into poverty.
"The government needs to radically rethink these proposals and work meaningfully with disabled people to create a safety net that is fair and fit for purpose."
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