To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Scott, H Zaman, Masood Ahmed, Hussain, Moore, A Zaman and Anwar;
“This Council notes with serious concern:
That the Government has passed the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, implementing parts of the earlier Pathways to Work Green Paper published in March 2025.
That the original Green Paper proposed wide-ranging reforms to PIP and long-term sickness benefits, including (i) stricter eligibility thresholds (such as the “4 points in one activity” test) (ii) reductions in support for people with mental health conditions and (iii) a shift toward linking disability benefits more closely with work and health treatment.
That while some of these proposals were dropped following public and parliamentary opposition (notably the new PIP scoring rule), others remain in force or are being implemented in stages, particularly those related to Universal Credit, the Work Capability Assessment, and health?related conditionality.
That the Government has confirmed existing PIP claimants will not be immediately affected, but that new claimants from late 2026 onwards may face stricter rules depending on further guidance and secondary legislation.
That changes to Universal Credit include plans to remove or reduce the “limited capability for work-related activity” element for new claimants, especially under-22s, potentially leaving thousands of vulnerable people with significantly less support.
This Council further notes:
That campaigners and expert organisations including Citizens Advice, Health Equity North, and the Resolution Foundation have warned of substantial financial losses and increased hardship under the reforms.
That research by Health Equity North estimates Huddersfield constituency alone could lose £17 million annually under the original package of proposals, with lasting consequences for residents, the local economy, and essential services.
That many of the worst-affected areas are in the North, with longstanding structural inequalities, poorer health outcomes, and stretched public services, including Kirklees.
That local councils like Kirklees are likely to face additional
pressures on:
Adult social care, Housing and homelessness services, Welfare
support, advice, and crisis payments, Mental health and public
health provision, without any clear guarantees of increased funding
or capacity.
This Council believes:
That the reforms represent a regressive shift in disability and sickness support, undermining the rights, dignity and independence of people with long-term conditions.
That there is insufficient evidence that the reforms will lead to improved outcomes for disabled people, and growing concern they may increase poverty, reduce access to support, and worsen health inequalities.
That Kirklees has a duty to speak out against national policies that will directly harm its most vulnerable residents and shift costs onto already overstretched local services.
This Council therefore resolves to:
(1) Formally oppose the changes to Universal Credit and disability benefits as enacted under the Universal Credit and PIP Bill, and any future secondary legislation that restricts access to PIP, particularly for people with mental health conditions or fluctuating needs.
(2) Write to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Chancellor of the Exchequer to (i) express the Council’s objection to the enacted reforms (ii) call for a halt to any further erosion of disability-related entitlements and (iii) request a cross-party review of the long-term adequacy of disability and sickness benefits.
(3) Write to all Kirklees MPs urging them to (i) oppose any additional regressive measures in forthcoming legislation (ii) speak up for disabled and chronically ill constituents and (iii) support amendments or repeal of the most damaging elements of the reforms.
(4) Publish a public statement outlining the Council’s position, and commit to working with local charities, advocacy groups, carers, and disabled residents to monitor and raise awareness of the changes.
(5) Request that the Overview and Scrutiny function undertakes a full impact review of the reforms on (i) local service demand (ii) financial risk to the Council and (iii) lived experience of Kirklees residents, particularly in relation to care, health, and income security.
(6) Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions seeking formal assurances that (i) existing PIP claimants will not be reassessed under any new rules without full consultation and safeguarding (ii) all further benefit changes will be subject to published Equality Impact Assessments and (iii) that local authorities will receive sufficient funding to manage additional demand and hardship resulting from national reforms.”
Minutes:
Item withdrawn.