The Labour government, led by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, has unveiled plans to significantly tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) as part of broader welfare reforms aimed at reducing the soaring benefits bill and encouraging more people to return to work. The proposed changes, which are expected to save over £5 billion annually by 2029/30, have sparked debate over their potential impact on disabled individuals and the sustainability of the welfare system.
Currently, PIP provides financial support to over 3 million people in the UK, costing £21.8 billion annually. The payments, which range from £72.65 to £108.55 per week for daily living needs, and £28.70 to £75.75 per week for mobility support, are awarded based on assessments of an individual’s ability to perform basic tasks such as dressing, washing, and feeding themselves. Under the current system, claimants can qualify with relatively low levels of impairment, but the reforms will raise the threshold, requiring individuals to demonstrate a more significant impairment by scoring at least four points on one of ten assessment categories.
The new eligibility criteria will focus on ten key areas: preparing food, eating and drinking, managing therapy or monitoring a health condition, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs or incontinence, dressing and undressing, communicating verbally, reading, engaging with others face-to-face, and making budgeting decisions. Claimants will need to show impairment in at least one of these categories to qualify for future PIP payments.
The government has described the current growth in PIP claims as “unsustainable,” projecting that the number of recipients could rise to 4.2 million within four years if no action is taken. The reforms aim to put the welfare system “back on a more sustainable path” while ensuring support is targeted at those with the greatest needs.
In addition to tightening PIP eligibility, Kendall announced other measures as part of the welfare overhaul, including scrapping work capability assessments, freezing the health element rates of Universal Credit, and increasing health work assessments to ensure that those claiming benefits are genuinely unable to work.
Critics argue that the reforms could disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals, particularly those with less visible disabilities or fluctuating conditions, who may struggle to meet the stricter eligibility criteria. However, the government maintains that the changes are necessary to control costs and encourage greater workforce participation.
The proposed reforms reflect Labour’s broader strategy to balance welfare support with economic growth, but they are likely to face scrutiny and opposition from disability rights groups and advocates who fear the changes could leave many without essential financial support.
