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Jesus , see this is why I cannot see how this can pass , it's literally leaving people desperate....if your on ir ESA and serve premium then you will move straight into UC lcwra , I think 🤔.... That means that you wouldn't loose everything by mid 2027 , you would probably go through the new pip criteria for your pip but lcwra will be reassessed under normal wca until scrapped so probably mid 2028 , so if you were not successful with your pip you may still get reassessed for lcwra just before the cut of scrapping wca and pass , that could take you to 2030 if lucky .... Maybe by then they will see that their plans are completely out of touch and have to change them especially with an election .... Thing is by then there will be another election and I can only see a reform government getting in and they will be just as vile

I get full pip though not 4 points but now I will appeal next time if needed. I’m on legacy esa and just received my migration letter .

Hi Danny

My pip review forms due any time now as it’s up early next year . But this time I’ll appeal if I don’t get a 4 point as I get highest but now wouldn’t be eligible which is ridiculous. My worry is face to face assessments as I have invisible conditions and tbh I can’t make plans to go places as I’m too fatigued and in pain. ESA , I haven’t had an assessment in about 7 years . At first they assessed me every 11 months then stopped. I spoke to UC the other day and mentioned a YouTube video where it was said dwp will assess everyone before the 2026 pip change . I said how are you going to achieve that? She said please don’t watch these videos as I’ve had these calls constantly with ppl worrying and we have no plans to reassess everyone and don’t even have enough staff .

Exactly that , it would be impossible to reassess everyone .... Like I say if your pip is up now or anytime soon you could get lucky and it could be say middle of next year meaning you would probably pass under the old criteria , and again wca for lcwra will be going on till 2028 so you will probably get assessed for that sometime from now to then so again same existing criteria....

I was

Incapacity benefit from 2009 - 2013

Cbesa 2013 - 2018 .... Then DWP made that mistake with alot of people , so we were all owed a back payment , because we should of been put in cbesa with ir top up .... So they backdated all the it top ups we missed when they moved us from incapacity benefit to UC

Cbesa ir top up - 2018 to 2022

2022 to now ... vounterally moved to UC

Kept my cbesa every two weeks

Get the rest in lcwra at the end of the month after reductions

So technically I've never been assessed for lcwra as many people won't have been because if your in the support group you sit go into lcwra .... But I've been told by many different sources that the ESA50 and UC50 are identical with the same descriptors and covers both cbesa and lcwra ....

I last got assessed November 2019 , was supposed to get reassessed Nov 2021

So this November will be 6 years since last reassessment and 4 years overdue

Like I say I'm just going to think about the reassessment for the wca at the moment , then when the wca and lcwra gets scrapped in 2028 and the new pip assessment takes over for everything to qualify for the health element I'll think about that then , like you say you can always go tribunal

Someone on the Benefits and Work site posted this. Thought it was very informative.

The 2026 PIP reform proposals, as publicly described, refer to a three-tier scoring system for descriptors: 0, 2, or 4 points, instead of the current wider scale of 0–12 across various descriptors. Let's now amend the legal summary to reflect that descriptors will be scored either 0, 2, or 4 points, and that to receive the enhanced (daily living) rate, you must:

Score 12 points in total, and

Score at least one 4-point descriptor.

Here is the corrected and legally accurate version:

Amended Legal Summary: 2026 PIP Reform Proposals – Descriptor Scoring and Long-Term Awards

1. Legal Standing of the Proposals

As previously noted, legal counsel has stated that the 2026 Green Paper proposals are likely lawful. These reforms can be implemented via legislative amendment or through updated statutory instruments, under the authority of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

Courts generally allow wide discretion to the Secretary of State in matters of welfare policy, especially when changes apply uniformly and are based on economic or policy rationale. A successful judicial review is therefore unlikely, unless:

The changes result in unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 or Breach rights protected under the Human Rights Act 1998 (e.g., Article 8 or Article 14), with disproportionate or unjustified effects on specific groups.

2. Scoring System and Eligibility for Enhanced Rate

Under the proposed system:

Each descriptor will be scored as either 0, 2, or 4 points.

A claimant must score at least 12 points in total across the daily living descriptors to qualify for the enhanced rate.

Importantly, at least one descriptor must be scored at 4 points. Scoring six descriptors at 2 points each (2 x 6 = 12) would not qualify for the enhanced rate under this system.

This introduces a qualitative threshold — the enhanced rate is intended for individuals with at least one area of severe or profound impairment, rather than moderate challenges spread across multiple domains.

3. Impact on Existing Long-Term (10-Year “Light-Touch”) Awards

The Green Paper is silent on whether the new rules will apply to those with current 10-year awards. This omission raises serious concern among existing claimants, particularly those:

Over 70,

With stable, long-term conditions,

Who scored multiple 2-point descriptors but no single 4-point descriptor.

Legal Position:

There is no “grandfathering” mechanism yet proposed, which would protect long-term recipients from reassessment under the new rules.

The concept of legitimate expectation could be invoked — arguing that light-touch awards implied continuity unless medical condition changes — but this is not currently enforceable in court unless a claimant can show that the DWP made an unambiguous promise.

4. Payments and “Grants”

There has been no official proposal to end cash payments or to replace PIP with grants, vouchers, or services. The Green Paper does not recommend such alternatives at this time. Media speculation and selective consultation questions have created confusion, but these do not amount to government policy.

5. Summary and Conclusion

The new descriptor model introduces scores of 0, 2, and 4 points, and to receive the enhanced rate, a claimant must:

Score at least 12 points total, and

Have at least one 4-point descriptor.

Claimants who score only 2 points across multiple areas, even if totalling 12, will not qualify.

Existing long-term awards are not protected unless future legislation explicitly provides for it.

Counsel maintains the proposals are lawful and unlikely to be overturned by judicial review.

No changes to the monetary nature of PIP have been formally proposed in the 2026 Green Paper.

what is one area of profound impairment classed as ? I’m in constant pain and fatigued to where I’m house / bed bound most of the time . Surely that’s a profound impairment yet I don’t get 4 points but am on higher care .

the assessors don’t award it . It’s almost as though they saw this coming

I don’t know how they award 10 year light touch awards . There’s no cure for my conditions but my last assessor gave me two years. Dwp increased it to 3 . I can’t get better with age can only get worse.

I was first awarded enhanced for living and mobility for 4 years in 2016 and out of the blue I received a letter in 2019 saying it had been reviewed and was changed to an ongoing award for both and wouldn't be looked at again til 2029. 13 points for daily living (4, 4, 3 and 2) and mobility 12 points, so it's really worrying to think the daily living could be taken away if I don't get the 4's next time around if they change the descriptors. I'm guessing what was said previously won't count for anything either?

You shouldn't have to fight and appeal all these draconian measures, we would all love to not be reliable on the state and have our health back!!