Upcoming changes to benefits

Iam in the ESA contributory support group and not due an ward review for 8 years, what will happen to that?

Sorry for another post.

I've also asked it (AI) to spell out what this will mean specifically for people in the LCWRA (support) group and receive both UC/ESA and PIP as I think that's quite a lot of us here that can't work.

This is what the AI summerised it will mean for our group (again if I'm wrong to post this I'm sorry and I'll delete) :

Short-Term (Next 1-2 Years)

• No immediate changes to your payment amounts
• WCA reassessments restarting - if you haven't had a reassessment since before COVID, you might be called for one
• Face-to-face assessments more likely - currently only 7% of assessments are face-to-face, but the government plans to increase this
• PIP assessments may be recorded as standard

Medium-Term (2026-2027)

• Your LCWRA payment will be protected - the government has guaranteed that existing LCWRA claimants won't see their UC health element reduced
• Your UC standard allowance will increase (by about £7 per week)
• Your LCWRA payment will be frozen until 2029/30 (won't increase with inflation)
• You will need to have periodic conversations about work and support, though you won't be required to search for jobs
• If you have a "severe, life-long condition with no prospect of improvement" you may be exempted from future reassessments entirely

For Your PIP

• If you score at least 4 points in at least one daily living activity (not just adding up smaller points across activities), your PIP should continue
• If you don't score 4+ points in any single activity, you could lose the daily living component when reassessed

Longer-Term (2028-2029)

• The WCA will be scrapped - you'll only need a PIP assessment, not separate assessments for PIP and UC/ESA
• Your UC health element entitlement will be based on your PIP award - if you qualify for PIP daily living, you'll qualify for the UC health element

Key Assurances in the Proposals

• Working won't trigger a reassessment - this will be enshrined in law
• If you have a severe, life-long condition, you may never need to be reassessed again
• If you try work and it doesn't work out, you should be able to return to your previous benefit level

Reality Check

These are proposals in a Green Paper, not confirmed changes. After the consultation period, some may be modified or abandoned. The most significant changes like scrapping the WCA aren't planned until 2028/29, and a general election or other factors could change these plans before they're implemented.

The most immediate concern would be whether you qualify under the new PIP 4-point rule when you're next reassessed. If you already score at least 4 points in at least one daily living activity (rather than adding up smaller points across different activities), this shouldn't affect your eligibility.

I think you will be left alone until your next review

right now I have 10 year pip do I have to be reassessed can someone answer this please

Applications may rise, but the toughened requirements will mean less will be accepted - and more existing claimants will lose out at their next review.

It's a complete car crash for those on LCWRA with no PIP

Looks like you'll be protected until 2029/2030, and then they even speak of transitional arrangements potentially being put in place beyond that.