The Reform Bill Has Passed – A Defining Moment

SpeakToMe Responds to the Government’s Vote on Universal Credit & PIP Reforms

Published: 2 July 2025

Yesterday, the Government voted in favour of the Universal Credit and PIP Reform Bill.

Let’s call it what it is.

This isn’t genuine reform. It’s a patch job, packaged to look like progress.

They’ve shuffled some pieces, paused the harshest measures, and claimed, “We’re listening.” But beneath the surface, it’s the same plan—one that risks leaving thousands more vulnerable, trapped in fear, debt, and isolation.

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A Turning Point with Real Consequences

The Bill passed with a 75-vote majority—335 to 260. That’s numbers, not endorsement. It succeeded because they temporarily scrapped the most severe elements, like cutting off current PIP claimants immediately. That’s not empathy. That’s political strategy.

And now, as we move into 2026, we’ll start feeling the real effects:

• Stricter rules for new claimants

• More hoops to jump through for support

• A welfare system that’s harder to rely on

Those already on the edge? They’re being pushed closer to it. The people who occasionally need support—the ones who fall in and out of the system? This hits them the hardest.

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Moving Away from Dignity and Security

At SpeakToMe, we’ve always believed that dignity isn’t negotiable. Safety shouldn’t vanish when life gets tough. And inclusion shouldn’t pause because someone filled out a benefits form.

But this Bill chips away at those values.

Disability isn’t a constant; it shifts. It’s often invisible. This legislation ignores that reality. It’s rigid. It’s clinical. And it’s detached from the real lives it’s supposed to support.

Let’s be clear: this Bill doesn’t serve the disabled community. It doesn’t represent us. And it certainly doesn’t uplift us.

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What’s Next?

Even with some changes delayed until November 2026, the worry starts now.

In the next two years, we’re likely to see:

• People abandoning the system because it’s too complicated or harsh

• A spike in appeals, rejections, and mental health struggles

• Fewer people getting the support they rightfully deserve

The government talks about upcoming reviews. But reviews don’t fill fridges. They don’t cover rent. And they don’t ease the anxiety of living in uncertainty.

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Our Beliefs

We believe:

• If you need support, you should receive it—no exceptions.

• If your condition fluctuates, the system should adapt with you, not against you.

• Asking for help should never make you feel less than.

This vote doesn’t just tighten policies—it tightens the squeeze on people’s lives. And we won’t sugarcoat that.

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What Needs to Happen Now

• The Government must be held accountable at every step.

• MPs need to confront the real-life impact of these changes.

• Disabled voices must lead every discussion—not as an afterthought, but as the driving force.

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This Is About More Than a Bill

It’s about the society we choose to build.

Do we want a community that stands by people in their toughest moments? Or one that closes the door and demands they prove their suffering?

At SpeakToMe, we’ve made our choice.

We stand with those exhausted from being questioned.

We stand with those still fighting to be heard.

We stand for a system that sees you, hears you, believes you.

And we’re not going anywhere.