Planned welfare reforms are expected to reshape access to key disability benefits in the coming years, raising concerns among advocacy groups and political figures alike.
According to Manchester Evening News, upcoming changes to the eligibility rules for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may carry significant financial implications not only for claimants but also for those who care for them.
With pressure mounting from both charities and opposition parties, questions are growing over the potential fallout for unpaid carers across the UK. Official estimates and reactions point to a broader debate surrounding the future of social support and the role of informal care.
PIP Reforms to Remove Support From 800,000 People
According to the impact assessment released alongside the spring statement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, approximately 800,000 people will lose access to PIP by the 2029/30 fiscal year.
This includes 370,000 current claimants, who may lose their support during reassessment, and 430,000 future applicants who will no longer qualify under updated eligibility rules.
The reform targets the daily living component of PIP, while the mobility component remains unaffected. The assessment states that those affected will lose an average of £4,500 per year.
PIP’s Gateway Role Threatens Carers’ Support
The expected loss of PIP support has a secondary effect on those who care for recipients. Over half of all Carer’s Allowance awards are directly tied to PIP eligibility. Removing this link could result in a further 150,000 carers losing either the Carer’s Allowance or the carer element of Universal Credit, representing a loss of £500 million in financial assistance.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, criticized the impact of the changes:
Today’s spring statement confirms that the government’s welfare reform plans will include the first substantial cuts to Carer’s Allowance in decades, realising many carers’ worst fears. This is an unprecedented step in the wrong direction and must be swiftly rectified.
She emphasised the structural role of PIP:
PIP is a ‘gateway’ benefit impacting eligibility for further support for carers, for whom the knock-on effect is both shocking and shameful.
This will cause huge anxiety for hard-pressed carers and their families who need every penny they can get to pay their bills. 1.2 million unpaid carers already live in poverty, and 400,000 live in deep poverty in the UK.
Walker added :
The repercussions of today’s changes will be felt deeply by those who for too long, have been our last line of defence – providing vital support which simply can’t be found elsewhere.
Political Backlash and Response From Opposition
The announcement drew sharp criticism from Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, who has previously spoken publicly about caring for both his disabled son and his mother.
He stated :
These cuts will be a double whammy to the most vulnerable, hitting disabled people who cannot work while slashing support for the loved ones who care for them.
Carers need more support, not less. Snatching away the little support these carers get will do nothing to help people into work; it will just put more pressure on already over-stretched carers, social care and the NHS.
The Government is putting the big banks and gambling companies ahead of disabled people and carers. It is not just cruel, it is a false economy and I urge ministers to think again.
Scrutiny Over Carer’s Allowance Rules
The reforms coincide with a broader review of Carer’s Allowance, after it was revealed that some claimants had unknowingly exceeded the weekly earnings threshold of £151, causing them to lose their entitlement and in some cases, repay thousands of pounds.
Claimants lose eligibility for the £81.90 weekly allowance if their earnings go over this threshold for even a single week, leading to growing concern over the clarity of the system and communication with recipients.
While some former PIP claimants may still be eligible for the mobility component, the withdrawal of the daily living support is expected to significantly impact carers who rely on that status for access to their own financial support.
Charities and campaigners warn that the changes could place greater strain on the UK’s informal care system, which already supports millions of people and represents a major, unpaid contribution to the health and social care infrastructure.
