Upcoming changes to benefits

See highlighted in bold below, will these changes come in at award review stage rather than being re-assessed mid award?

Focussing PIP more on those with higher needs

137. PIP will remain an important, non-means tested benefit for disabled people and people with health conditions – regardless of whether they are in or out of work. However, the number of people receiving PIP is rising significantly and is becoming unaffordable. In 2024 to 2025, there were 3 million working-age people in receipt of PIP at a cost of £21.8 billion. By 2029/2030, the working-age PIP caseload is forecast to be 4.2 million people, at a cost of £34.1 billion per year.[footnote 83] The rate of increases in claims and expenditure is not sustainable and has outstripped the growth in disability prevalence.

138. Changes are needed that will control the spend on the welfare bill, while continuing to support those people with higher needs relating to their long-term health condition or disability. As described above, we will introduce a new eligibility requirement to ensure that only those who score a minimum of 4 points in at least one daily living activity will be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This requirement will need to be met in addition to the existing PIP eligibility criteria.

139. This means that people who have lower needs only in the daily living activities (scoring 3 or less for each activity) will no longer be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. Meanwhile, people with a higher level of functional need in at least one activity – for example, people who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them – will still receive PIP.

140. We will introduce this change through primary legislation. It will apply to new claims and for existing people who claim, future eligibility will be decided at their next award review. This change means that people could lose entitlement to the daily living element of PIP and potentially other entitlements linked to this award.

141. We are mindful of the impact this change could have on people and so want to consider how we can best support those affected. This includes options for transitional protection for those who are no longer eligible for PIP and the entitlements linked to their award. In addition, we also want to consider how to support those with lower needs in a large number of PIP activities, as part of these changes. We are consulting on whether those who lose entitlement need any support and what this support could look like (see consultation question 2).

142. As stated in Annex B, the impact and interactions of any changes to the PIP gateway will need to be fully considered with the Devolved Governments. This will be particularly important in Scotland as PIP is devolved and has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment.

She was speaking so fast and came across as aggressive.

I'm afraid she lost me on a lot of it.

I'm listening to the analysis on gb news.

What about the point where you go from Standard PIP to Enhanced PIP - Anything said about that yet ?

Good question

I get LCWRA but got rejected for PIP first try waiting for MR to come back then I’ll be taking it to tribunal so hoping this will be watered down and challenged before then especially if they’re tightening criteria for pip it isn’t fair but seeing as it’s 3 years away I’ll worry about it then.

future eligibility will be decided at their next award review