Upcoming changes to benefits
Comments
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What has been announced?
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is now going through her main announcements.
This includes merging jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance.
The "complex" and "time-consuming" work capability assessment (WCA) for universal credit will also be scrapped in 2028, Kendall says.
She also announces that trying to get a job will never put a benefit at risk, with a new "right to try" initiative, and the "financial incentive" to go on welfare benefits will be removed.
She says the government "will legislate to rebalance the payments in universal credit from April next year, holding the value of the health top up fixed in cash terms for existing claimants and reducing it for new claimants".
The minister adds there will be "an additional premium for people with severe lifelong conditions".
Kendall then says that the standard universal credit allowance will rise by £775 by 2029/30.
The secretary of state then vows to "switch back on" WCAs after the last government reduced the numbers carried out in the pandemic.
People with the most "severe disabilities and health conditions" will not need to be reassessed on their suitability to work, she adds.
On personal independence payments, Kendall says the benefit will not be means tested, and a Tory proposal for vouchers will not be introduced.
She says people will need to score at least four points in one activity to qualify for PIP, Kendall adds - in a change that will require a change in law.
The PIP review system will also be reformed.
Kendall says this will save £5bn a year by the end of the decade.
On support for those looking for work, the minister announces £1bn a year for employment support.
The minister says the government will consult on whether the health top-up to universal credit should be delayed for those under 22, with the savings spent on work support and training opportunities.
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I’m by no means a political mastermind but I’ve followed this ‘talk’ on BBC news and tbh I’m not as worried as I was 35 mins ago.
It doesn’t seem as bad as we all thought, or does it?
The fact that the Tories are saying it’s not tough enough is a point to remember. (Yes I know it’s their job).
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I'm currently herding a lot of cats today, but the team will do what they can. 😊
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you can sense what is next theres no jobs for able body people its goig to be hard for us
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I’m wondering the same. That’s the group I’d move into when I migrate over. I won’t be doing that if my benefit is going to be cut next year.
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Gonna make PIP assessments even more stressful. If you lose PIP, you lose LCWRA, and loss of both will mean homelessness for a lot of people - unless you're one of those mythical people clearing £900+ a month disposable income.
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Thank you so much Albus. Thank you scope.
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From the green paper :
Instead, eligibility to the additional UC health element will be based on whether someone is receiving any Daily Living Award in PIP
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Really appreciate this jenwren.
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It's the only benefit I get and if they're on about cutting over £400 and reassessing to make it harder to even qualify, I have no idea what I'm going to do. This is frightening
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What about those on ongoing awards? Will they be re-assessed despite the 10 year awards?
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So for those with pip awards that score more than 4 points in a descriptor under care, will be OK (with no changes to mobility). For new style esa and jsa, not sur either like the idea of the amalgation. I'm on new style esa support group, so I assume I'll loose that
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So if we get LCWRA but no PIP, we'll lose our LCWRA completely? That's me done for then
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So I think I am in work related activity group, in ESA, and haven't for 20 years, are they saying is will be no more and time limited ?
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I'd been saying it's always best not to listen to rumours and wait for the actual announcement. Not ideal for many of course, but it wasn't the car crash the press had made it out to be. But it's early days, so we'll see what happens.
The focus does seem to be on giving those who can work, the chance to try working and give them the support to find a job and stay in it.4 -
I will eventually lose LCWRA as I have never qualified for pip as my problem is mental health and a small physical disability. I am 60 years old and suffered three severe mental breakdowns over ten years. Lots of other problems too. How the hell am I going to get a job? And where? I sometimes struggle to get to the shops and back. They simply do not understand how mental health effects your entire life. Because I don't dress like Napoleon and shout at pigeons doesn't mean I'm okay.
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Looks like I will be fine after all. I feel confident going forward
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So I just put the green paper into an AI and asked it to translate it into everyday english and break down the main points of it.
I hope this is OK to post here but hopefully it'll give a clearer overview as there's a lot of info that's coming out minute by minute.
Obviosuly also this is AI, so please be aware that it might not be 100% perfect. If this goes against any rules, very sorry and will delete. This is what AI summerises the green paper as:
Understanding the UK's Proposed Benefits Reform - In Plain EnglishThe Main Changes Proposed
1. Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)
The government plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment that currently decides if someone is:
- Fit for work
- Has limited capability for work (LCW)
- Has limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA)
Instead, they'll use the PIP assessment as the single assessment for determining eligibility for both PIP and the health element of Universal Credit.
2. Changes to PIP Eligibility
They plan to add a new requirement for PIP's daily living component: you must score at least 4 points in one single activity (not just add up smaller points across different activities). This will make PIP harder to get for people with multiple lower-level needs.
3. Changes to Universal Credit Rates
Starting April 2026:
- The standard UC allowance will increase by £7 per week for everyone
- For new claims, the health element (currently LCWRA) will be reduced from £97 to £50 per week
- For existing claimants, the health element will be frozen until 2029/30, but they'll get the increased standard allowance
4. More Support Conversations and Engagement
The government wants nearly everyone on health-related benefits to engage in periodic conversations about work, even if they're not required to look for work.
What This Means for People on PIP
- Some people will lose PIP entitlement - If you currently get PIP daily living component but don't score at least 4 points in any single activity (instead adding up smaller points across activities), you may lose this benefit when reassessed.
- Single assessment process - You'll only need one assessment (PIP) rather than potentially two (PIP and WCA).
- You can try work without fear of reassessment - The government will put into law that working won't trigger a reassessment of your benefits.
What This Means for People on UC in the Support Group/LCWRA
- For existing claimants:
- Your payment level will be protected, though frozen until 2029/30
- You'll still get the increased standard allowance
- People with "severe, life-long conditions with no prospect of improvement" will never need reassessment
- For new claimants after April 2026:
- You'll receive a lower health element (£50 instead of £97 per week)
- However, those with severe, life-long conditions may get an additional premium to protect their income
- More engagement expected:
- Most people will be required to have periodic conversations about work
- There will be exemptions for some people, but these aren't fully defined yet
Other Key Proposals
- New "Unemployment Insurance" - A higher-rate but time-limited benefit for people who have paid National Insurance contributions.
- Youth changes - They're considering:
- Delaying access to the UC health element until age 22
- Raising the age for moving from DLA for children to PIP from 16 to 18
- £1 billion more for employment support - For personalized help for disabled people who want to work.
- Reforming Access to Work - The scheme that helps people with workplace adjustments will be revamped to support more people.
What Happens Next?
This is a Green Paper, which means it's a set of proposals that the government is consulting on. There's a 12-week consultation period where people can give feedback. Not all proposals will necessarily happen, and some may change.
The government plans to publish a White Paper later this year with final proposals before introducing legislation to implement the changes.
Most of these changes wouldn't take effect immediately - many are planned for 2026-2029, with the scrapping of the WCA scheduled for 2028/29.
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I have heard the new points system for PIP will be changed for November 2026 BUT i do think this will get watered down. I feel this may get legally challenged.
Not as bad as i thought it would be however i am sure we will know more once scope and other sites gather more information.
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Absolutely. And I’ve said a few times on here that it’s all just ‘chatter’ at the moment and it would need to go through lots of legislation etc… before anything is implemented. If anything at all.
But from what I’ve heard today, I personally don’t think it’s as bad as we were all fearing.
I know it’ll affect some more than others but it could have been a whole lot worse.
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