Scope's reply to the governments planned concessions to the green paper.

As promised, here’s the update from the meeting I attended today with my MP. She confirmed that there are approximately 3,000 PIP claimants in her constituency. To date, she has received 450 emails or letters from concerned recipients, but only nine individuals were able to attend the meeting today.

This turned out to be a positive outcome, as it allowed us to have a two-hour discussion where we could outline our concerns and educate her on how the system actually works in reality, rather than just how it is intended to work on paper.

I was personally very moved by the terrible experiences people shared, and while I will provide further details tomorrow, I can say that, despite my own work commitments, my MP made it clear that nobody in that meeting should ever be required to work, as we were all too sick. It was a very in-depth conversation, and I will post more about it tomorrow.

My MP was unable to confirm whether the proposed protections for the 4-point PIP rule will apply for the full duration of a claimant’s entitlement. She indicated that she will be consulting with ministers next week to seek clarity, as she did not interpret the protection as a permanent guarantee. Instead, she understood it to be a temporary concession, meaning that existing claimants are protected from the new rule only until their next scheduled review. For many, this could be several years, depending on the length of their current award.

She has committed to providing an update on this point at the post vote analysis meeting she has already arranged with her constituents for next week.

I asked about claimants currently in the LCWRA group who do not receive PIP. She confirmed that existing UC claimants receiving the health element (LCWRA) will be protected from the upcoming reduced rate. They will continue to receive the higher rate—£97/week (£423.27/month)—from April 2026, but this amount will be frozen until it is phased out from 2028.

From 2028/29, to receive any additional UC support for sickness or disability, claimants will need to qualify for the daily living component of PIP, as the Work Capability Assessment will be abolished and PIP will become the sole gateway for this support. The new criteria will definitely apply to this cohort.

Another person raised concerns about the protections for adults still receiving DLA who have not yet been transferred over to PIP. She confirmed that, as far as she is aware, there are no specific protections in place for this group. However, she will consult with relevant ministers and provide an update during next week's meeting.

I asked about the severe conditions criteria for PIP, and my MP confirmed she will get back to me next week after consulting with relevant parties. She also assured me that there will be full engagement with all stakeholders regarding the new PIP criteria moving forward.

MONEY BILL

I have also asked for clarity on whether this will eventually be classed as a money bill at its third reading before it goes to the House of Lords. She will get back to me next week after further consultation with ministers.