Citizens Advice's response to the passing of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at second reading

Responding to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (Pip) Bill passing at second reading, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: 

"We're pleased the government has finally listened to concerns and stepped back from rushing through devastating changes for disabled people. However, even with these last minute concessions, there is still more to do to protect people from hardship. 

"This whole episode highlights the need for a completely different approach and we urge the government to pause this Bill. 

"The government came into office promising to improve living standards - now they need to prove they mean it by changing course and creating a benefits system that actually supports people, rather than pushing them into poverty."

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Notes to editors:

  1. Citizens Advice is made up of the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.

  2. Our network of charities offers impartial advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. 

  3. Citizens Advice helped 2.68 million people face to face, over the phone, by email and webchat in 2023-24. And we had 51.7 million visits to our website. For full service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.

  4. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 19,000 trained volunteers, working at over 1,900 service outlets across England and Wales.

  5. Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and postal markets. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers. 

  6. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808 223 1144 for Welsh language speakers.