The Government has refused a request from MPs to delay controversial reforms to disability benefits ahead of the bill being introduced to parliament.
A large number of MPs have opposed plans to shave £5bn off the welfare bill by restricting eligibility for personal independence payments (PIP) and the universal credit (UC) health top up.
Those against the changes have urged the government to delay the reforms in order to carry out independent assessment of the true impact of the cuts.
They are concerned that people who rely on the payments could be pushed into deprivation or left vulnerable if support is removed without an alternative source of income.
But Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has refused the request by MPs to delay the reforms, in a letter made public on Wednesday.
The bill setting out the exact details of the changes is expected to be introduced into the Commons next week.
Labour MP and chair of the work and pensions committee Debbie Abrahams had written to Kendall last month urging her to delay changes to allow for more scrutiny of who exactly would lose their support.
Replying to the committee this week, Kendall said she would not push back the reforms.
This is despite threats from upwards of 150 Labour MPs who have previously indicated they will not vote for the proposed changes without these demands being met.
Kendall told the committee the government has “consistently been clear that we are not consulting on every proposal” – arguing that the introduction of legislation will give Parliament the opportunity to scrutinise the measures.
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And she said the reforms “are needed now” in order to make the welfare system “sustainable”.
She said the government wanted to look at “the assessment criteria” for PIP and how reforming it could “play a role in unlocking wider support”.
But she argued this would “take time and require extensive engagement” which is why the government could not wait for its conclusion to make the changes to PIP eligibility criteria.
The bill needs to achieve Royal Assent by November this year in order to be implemented for 2026/27, which is when the government has pencilled in the welfare savings.
Under the changes to PIP, those claiming the daily living support element will need to achieve four points in their assessment in order to qualify – meaning only those with more severe conditions will be eligible.
Official analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates 9 in 10 people currently on PIP will still be receiving it by the end of this Parliament, even with the changes planned.
Government data has, however, suggested that the number of claimants who do not meet the four-point criteria is considerably higher – reaching 9 in 10 in some parts of the country.
The Government argues these people would not necessarily have their PIP withdrawn under the reforms, due to possible changes in personal circumstances or health conditions and reforms to the assessment process.
Labour says that apart from needing to make savings due to inheriting a claimed £22bn blackhole in the budget, it is also introducing measures to help disabled people into work.
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