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Benefits bill changes 'shouldn't be looked at in isolation', Tameside MP says

MP Jonathan Reynolds has spoken out after the government's U-turn on its benefits bill, which will see Pip claimants better protected and some universal credit cuts reversed.

The MP for Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Longdendale and Dukinfield described the current benefits system as 'not fit for purpose', and has welcomed the government's most recent changes to its original proposals. 

The Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill was voted in by Parliament on Tuesday (1st July). It won by a total of 75 votes, but only after major changes were made to satisfy Labour rebels.

Original plans for the bill included stricter daily living assessments for both current and future claimants, meaning many disabled people would see cuts to their income whether or not their condition has changed. 

It would have also seen people who receive higher rates of universal credit have their payments frozen by 2030. 

Following the proposals, at least 127 Labour MPs signed an amendment to give them the opportunity to vote on a proposal to reject the plans, citing fears of pushing people into poverty. 

After the rebellion, the Government has since said it will not be changing Pip rules until the recommendations of a review could be implemented. 

Regarding universal credit, the new rules will see current claimants protected. For those applying after April 2026, universal credit payments will be almost halved from £96 to £50. 

People living with severe conditions which mean they will never be able to work will also not need to be reassessed. 

In a social media post, Mr Reynolds said: "I know that the process of getting help can feel adversarial, arbitrary and rather than helping people get on, it can trap them on low incomes unable to get work or look to move up in their job due to cliff edges in support.

"We need a system that supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot, and puts social security spending on a sustainable footing so it has wide public support – making the system fit for today and for generations to come.

"The Bill shouldn’t be looked at in isolation either. Alongside this reform, an unprecedented £1bn a year in employment support is being introduced for disabled people, transforming job centres into a new national jobs and career service, putting in place a youth guarantee, so all 18-21 year olds have access to employment support, training or an apprenticeship, improving the benefit assessment process and shifting the incentives in the system so they support people into work."

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