The UK government laid revised welfare-reform legislation before Parliament on Monday, with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirming that the scaled-back package will still push an estimated 150,000 adults into relative poverty by the end of the decade. The figure, published in a new Department for Work and Pensions impact assessment, is substantially lower than the 250,000 forecast under the original plan but has reignited criticism from disability groups and MPs across the House. Kendall told MPs the concessions, agreed after a back-bench rebellion, limit tighter eligibility rules for Personal Independence Payments and the health-related element of Universal Credit to new applicants from November 2026. Existing claimants will be protected, while the government will inject an extra £300 million into employment support and legislate for a ‘right to try’ work without automatic benefit reassessment. The changes turn a projected saving of about £5 billion into a net cost of roughly £2.5 billion in 2029/30, with updated figures to be certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility later in the year. Despite the retreat, ministers face a potentially large revolt when the bill receives its second-reading vote on Tuesday. More than 120 Labour MPs signed an earlier motion opposing the original proposals, and party figures including Debbie Abrahams and Meg Hillier say the latest offer still falls short. Conservative shadow ministers label the move an “unfunded U-turn,” while the Liberal Democrats and several regional mayors have signalled they will vote against the bill. Downing Street is continuing 11-hour talks in an effort to avoid the first major Commons defeat of Keir Starmer’s premiership.