GCVS responds to ‘Pathways to Work’ and the Universal Credit/PIP Bill
2nd July 2025
Author: Lynn Williams, Partnerships and Membership Coordinator
We have responded to the ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper, considering feedback from our members and analyses of the proposals by UK charities and groups, including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trussell Trust.
You can download our full response below, and read more about the current plans including what happens next.
We believe that any positive intentions outlined in ‘Pathways to Work’ – including the “right to try” and increasing the Universal Credit Standard Rate – were negated mainly by significant changes in PIP eligibility and cuts to the health element of Universal Credit.
GCVS is calling on the Government to halt its plans and work closely with disabled people, their families and frontline charities to ensure a fairer, kinder benefits system – especially as some of the key proposals are likely to cause deeper hardship for hundreds of thousands of people, according to The Trussell Trust.
The vital role of the voluntary sector in supporting claimants and employability was not recognised within ‘Pathways to Work’. We have therefore asked Ministers to come and meet frontline charities in Glasgow to hear first-hand about the work being done with people living in poverty and individuals seeking to get back into work.
UK Government Responds to Public Campaigns
Late last week, the UK Government announced several changes in response to concerns raised by backbench MPs and disability campaigners ahead of a crucial vote on the Universal Credit/PIP Bill.
This Bill builds on some of the Pathways to Work proposals that were still under consultation when they were introduced.
The concessions offered provided some protection to existing Universal Credit and PIP claimants, but cuts still applied to new claimants. Before the vote, hundreds of charities across the UK spoke out about the Bill provisions and the likely effects on the lives of disabled people and their families. They called on MPs to vote down the Bill.
GCVS were among over 100 charities in Glasgow that supported a Poverty Alliance letter to Scotland Office Ministers and Scottish MPs, calling for them to vote against the changes and create a country “free from poverty, not one that forces people into deeper poverty and destitution.”
Last-minute Concessions
Further concessions were offered as the Universal Credit/PIP bill was being debated in Parliament on 1 July. These likely enabled the Bill to pass to the next parliamentary stage.
The PIP ‘4 point rule‘ was removed from the Bill. There is no guarantee, however, that this proposal will not re-emerge after a government-led review of PIP assessments. Ministers have stated that this review will be co-produced with people with disabilities.
The Government also announced that it would halt the planned freeze on the health element of Universal Credit.
Some of the funding promised for employment support has been brought forward, which is welcome. However, as the Bill moves to the next stage, cuts to Universal Credit for new claimants remain in the mix, including the loss of the health element for disabled young people under the age of 22.
These changes will affect people across Glasgow.
Where are we now?
Much has happened over recent days, with charities across Scotland and beyond campaigning hard to stop the Bill progressing. Benefits and Work have written this helpful summary.
We also await the Government’s response to the ‘Pathways to Work’ consultation and what happens with other proposals contained in this document.
What next?
Charities and campaigners will continue to challenge the Bill as it progresses through Parliament and the House of Lords.
Locally, activists and voluntary organisations in Castlemilk are seeking to connect with other community groups across Glasgow to ensure that the voices of families hardest hit are being heard loud and clear.
If you are aware of local campaigning activity, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Lynn Williams at lynn.williams@gcvs.org.uk.
We remain concerned about increased demand on local voluntary and community groups.
Please let us know if you’re already seeing more people or taking more calls as families try to determine how they will be affected.
We want to thank the GCVS members and colleagues across the voluntary sector who helped us shape our response to ‘Pathways to Work’.
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