Our CEO responds to the Universal Credit Bill passing its final stage

On Wednesday 9 July the Universal Credit Bill (previously Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill) passed the final voting stages in Parliament.  

Changes voted through mean that the Bill no longer contains any changes to PIP, and focuses only on changes to Universal Credit, including increasing the standard rate but halving the Health Element received by those unable to work due to a health condition such as cancer.  

In response to the Bill’s passing, Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer said: 

“The Universal Credit Bill passing its final stages is disappointing, concerning and confusing for disabled people, including the young people with cancer that we support, and those yet to be diagnosed in the future.  

“Whilst welcome that any changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have been removed from the Bill, it remains to be seen what changes will result from the Timms PIP review which won’t report until autumn next year. 

“It’s vital that promises of true co-production and meaningful involvement of disabled people in the review are followed through. The voices of young people with cancer must be heard to make PIP really work for them. We’re ready and willing to work with UK Government to make this happen.   

“But now the damage has been done to the Universal Credit Health Element. We’ll now see working-age young people, unable to work because of cancer, receive £200 less every month from April 2026 than those with cancer receive now – because the Bill doesn’t class cancer as a “severe condition”.  

“We all know the welfare system is broken, but the answer to fixing it doesn’t lie in taking financial support away from those who need it most. The answer is not creating a two-tier system of support. The answer is not making people with cancer suffer more.  

“The process this Bill has followed has been rushed, confusing and challenging for many people watching and waiting to see the outcome. We know many will still be concerned about what this means, and Young Lives vs Cancer will continue to be there every step of the way to support young people with cancer.  

“Thank you to all our supporters who stood up and spoke out with us against the changes originally in the Bill – your voices helped remove concerning PIP changes from this Bill.”