A CROSS-PARTY group of MPs has urged the government to pause planned cuts to Universal Credit (UC), warning they will push thousands more disabled people into poverty.

Under the recently passed Universal Credit Bill, new claimants will see the health-related top-up element of the benefit slashed from £423.27 to £217.26 per month from April 2026.

Existing claimants and new claimants with severe or terminal conditions are said to be protected from the changes.

However, in a new report, the work and pensions committee raised concerns that certain conditions, particularly serious mental health conditions, will not be included under the new criteria.

The report highlighted that those with fluctuating conditions, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, could also miss out.

The government is set to increase the UC standard allowance next year, although it will mainly benefit single adults aged 25 and over, who are to receive an annual boost of £725 by 2029/30.

However, the committee warned that despite the increase, the health cuts will still drive disabled people further into poverty and urged further rises before the end of this parliament.

Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams said: “The government’s own analysis published in March indicates that from next April, approximately 50,000 people who develop a health condition or become disabled — and those who live with them — will enter poverty by 2030 as a result of the reduction in support of the UC health premium.

“We recommend delaying the cuts to the premium, especially given that other policies such as additional NHS capacity, or employment support, or changes in the labour market to support people to stay in work, have yet to materialise.”

Mikey Erhardt, policy lead at Disability Rights UK, said: “We remain shocked that MPs waved through the new severe conditions criteria.”

“Instead of protecting those most at risk, [it] guarantees that many of us with serious impairments and health conditions will not receive the money we need to live with dignity and independence.

“Disabled people on UC can’t make ends meet now, we can’t pay for basics such as food and energy, so how can we live on considerably less?”

James Taylor of disability charity Scope said: “We are concerned that the changes to the health component of UC will create a two-tier system where some disabled people receive more support than others.

“The changes being made feel like they are designed to cut support — rather than what’s best for disabled people — and will only move more disabled people into poverty.”

A Government spokesperson said: “Our welfare reforms will support those who can work into jobs and ensure there is always a safety net for those that need it. The impact assessment shows our reforms will lift 50,000 children out of poverty – and our additional employment support will lift even more families out of poverty.

“The reforms will rebalance Universal Credit rates to reduce the perverse incentives that trap people out of work, alongside genuinely helping disabled people and those with long-term health conditions into good, secure work – backed by £3.8bn in employment support over this parliament.”