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Ministers look at softening UK welfare cuts to avert rebellion by Labour MPsGovernment is seeking to save £5bn a year by reforming disability benefits known as ‘personal independence payments’Labour MPs involved in organising rebels ahead of a crunch vote on the welfare reforms say more than 160 disagree with the proposals
Ministers are considering a softening of their contentious UK welfare reforms that could allow up to 200,000 people to keep their disability benefits, as the government seeks to stave off a backbench rebellion.
In March, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans to reform the welfare system to save the government about £5bn a year by scaling back disability benefits known as “personal independence payments”.
One of the changes being looked at was a tweak to the proposed Pip assessment rules so that individuals who do not receive at least four points in any category, but do receive a high overall score, would still be eligible, according to two people briefed on the discussions.
The change being considered could affect about 13 per cent of the 1.5mn people at risk of having their disability benefits cut.
The people stressed that the government might not opt to pursue this change, and a number of other options were being looked at, as Starmer prepares for what is likely to be the biggest rebellion of his premiership next month.
Labour MPs involved in organising rebels ahead of a crunch vote on the welfare reforms say more than 160 disagree with the proposals, which could see the benefit completely taken away from some 800,000 people, many of whom need help washing themselves or using the toilet.
Starmer is mindful of a need to quell the rebellion and maintain party unity even as he tacks to the right on issues such as immigration and trans rights in his efforts to fend off Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party.
The prime minister has already said he was planning to walk back his deeply unpopular decision to **** winter fuel payments from about 10mn pensioners, and has signalled to allies that he was keen to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which is a significant contributor to child poverty.
Under the current system, Pip recipients are given a score of up to 12 in 10 different categories. They need to score a total of at least eight points across all of the categories to receive the “standard rate” of Pip and at least 12 points for the “enhanced rate”.
But under the rules announced earlier this year, due to come into effect in November 2026, claimants will need to score at least four points in at least one category to receive any rate of Pip.
The change being discussed by ministers would allow individuals that score less than four in all categories of daily living activities to still qualify for Pip if they get a high overall score.
This higher overall score could be set at 12, in line with the current score needed to get the enhanced rate, the people said.
Thirteen per cent of people that currently score 12 or above overall — and are therefore eligible for the enhanced rate of Pip — were awarded less than four points for all assessment categories, according to data provided by the government under Freedom of Information laws. This equates to about 210,000 people,
The Office for Budget Responsibility said that taking into account the raw number of recipients today, Starmer’s proposed welfare reforms would mean that about 1.5mn people could lose out on the benefit. But it added that it expected behavioural change by applicants and assessors to significantly reduce the number of people affected.RecommendedUK welfare reformUK considers taxing pensioners to claw back winter fuel payment
The watchdog therefore estimated that around 800,000 people will lose out on the disability benefit, equating to about 16 per cent of recipients.
People close to the government stress that the changes would not come into effect until November of next year, and it would take three years to reassess everyone already on the caseload.A government spokesperson said: “The majority of people who are currently getting Pip will continue to receive it. We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and that their income is protected.”
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Starmer did give the impression of being a much better person than he is. It's was actually an act to lull you into a false sense of security and then attack you, seemly out of nowhere.
In the end though all he seems to be is right wing, morally bankrupt Morgan McSweeny's puppet. I'd love to know who elected him!
Sadly, I've read that Starmer will be difficult to get rid of and that Labour are not the type, like the Tories were to show their leaders the door,if they can possibly help it.
Apart from Jeremy Corbyn that is. 😡
Considering what happened to him, we know, of course than getting a principled, left wing MP like Richard Burgon in as PM is never going to happen.
It's a nice thought though! 😊
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I do like Prime Monster, @Passerbyit's spot on.👌 Can I add my suggestion Karma for Starmer to the list? 🤔
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If I’m reading this right that means those on enhanced without a 4 point ( 13% I think ) would keep their award but those on standard without a 4 (87%I think) would lose. Effectively wiping out standard care . Thank you for posting, at least this means they’re looking at changes .
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Me and my wife would be in the 13% we get higher rate both but no 4 point
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Me too Johnny but only just . The whole thing is wrong . Until my last assessment I was on standard yet just as bad as I am now .
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This new idea of the 4 point rule being amended to appease mp's is a complete cop out. Again Starmer is trying to get his own way because they want him to scrap these pip reforms in full, something he's not willing to do. No doubt those who are already on enhanced daily living will think, well I'm okay then, completely selfish outlook, to say I won't be affected, well good for you. Soooo angry with some comments on here……..again.
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I’m on enhanced and I certainly don’t think that Charlie . What he’s planning is basically scrapping the standard rate. Until my last assessment I was on standard yet I was just as bad as I am now . The fact that he’s thinking of changes is a good sign I think 🤔. It must mean they’re worried the vote will go against them
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I have EUPD a severe mental health condition.
I am in receipt of LCWRA and standard rate PIP.
I stand to loose all my support even if these 'tweaks' are bought in.
The worry and uncertainty over these past weeks have been unbearable.
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The retirement age in North Korea for women is 60 years, for men 65 years, as far as I remember.
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The guardian
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That’s the scary part . It’s always been a worry losing pip but at least we’d have esa/ lcwra as a back up. This way we go from being disabled to being non disabled over 4 point descriptor. Basically taking away our right and identity as disabled people. That’s surely discrimination
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I know last time I was assessed I got standard rate but like others sometimes say, they knew they should have got enhanced but accecpted standard because of fear of losing everything. I believe I could have got enhanced due to 2 descriptors, they scored me 2 points on each but I should have got minimum 4. I think next time I'll definately appeal to get the enhanced, ilke you say it's good he's looking at changes but again he's being manipulative and playing us off against each other. I despise the man and all he stands for(very little), he shouldn't just make 'tweaks' to these pip refprms, they need scrapping entirely, they are inhumane, cruel, and dangerous.
I honestly didn't mean to rant at folk on here, Starmer just makes me soooo angry, didn't help seeing his smug face this morning on tv again when I turned it on, that set me off too, I usually try avoid news on tv as well!! Lets hope this 4 point thing gets scrapped completely and mp's don't accept his dodgy consessions, that man is so sly, slimy, and Lucifer has more comassion than that two faced flip flopper.
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True. The WCA was cruel and feared greatly but it needed a shot of medical common sense rather than abolition. It's abolition and the impact of that is a forgotten "reform".
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Yes I agree, I dont think people mean it, it just comes out wrong in written form, a bit like a text message!! This is what starmer wants though, people against each other all the time, e.g look what youv'e got, making us out to be lazy and workshy!! I despise the man, he's nothing but a used car salesman, and a useless one at that, trying to push reforms which are dangerous, cruel, and nobody whose any moral issues wants.
He's now trying to get rid of the standard rate in my opinion which would still affect loads of people who really need it, and are fully entitled to it. That's what I meant by him playing people off one another, those who get enhanced and those on standard rate, he's a monster, evil, and one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
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