The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently confirmed that people with terminal illnesses will be shielded from the significant changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system. As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to cut £5 billion from the benefits budget, eligibility for PIP will be tightened, affecting many current claimants.
However, those nearing the end of their life will continue to receive the enhanced rate of the daily living component, ensuring that these vulnerable individuals are not financially impacted by the reforms. According to DevonLive, the adjustments to the PIP system are expected to cut support for thousands of disabled people.
Government’s Plan to Revamp Pip Payments
The UK government is undertaking a major overhaul of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system as part of an effort to reduce public spending by £5 billion.
The changes will focus on tightening the eligibility criteria and cutting payments for approximately 800,000 current claimants, with 370,000 people on disability benefits expected to lose an average of £4,500 annually by 2029/30.
Protection for Claimants With Terminal Illnesses
However, not all claimants will be affected by the new eligibility requirements. People with terminal illnesses, who apply under special rules for end-of-life care, will continue to receive the enhanced daily living component of PIP without undergoing assessments or meeting the usual qualifying conditions.
This decision ensures that the most vulnerable individuals are protected from the financial strain caused by the reforms. Conservative MP Danny Kruger raised concerns in Parliament, asking the Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, about the impact of the reforms on those with terminal conditions.
Kruger specifically referenced the Green Paper titled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, inquiring whether people with terminal illnesses would be affected by the new PIP eligibility threshold of four points in a single category.
In response, Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, clarified:
Claimants of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) who are nearing the end of their life will be unaffected by the reforms to the PIP assessment criteria.
Claims made under the special rules for end-of-life are automatically awarded the enhanced rate of the daily living component without having to take part in an assessment and without having to meet the required period condition. The majority of claimants are also awarded the mobility component.
Increased Face-To-Face Assessments Planned
In addition to changes in eligibility, the government has committed to increasing the number of face-to-face assessments for PIP claimants. The aim is to provide a more personal approach to evaluating applicants’ needs.
However, the DWP has also emphasized that alternative assessment channels will remain available for those who require specific accommodations, ensuring that people are assessed in a way that meets their individual needs.
Sir Stephen Timms reiterated the DWP’s commitment to expediting PIP assessments:
The Department is committed to assessing people for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as quickly as possible to ensure they receive the support they are entitled to in a timely manner. PIP assessments are currently carried out via a range of channels.
As set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we are committed to doing more face-to-face assessments while preserving alternative health assessment channels to meet the specific needs of people who require a different channel, for example, as a reasonable adjustment.
The new PIP assessment system will inevitably lead to significant financial losses for many disability benefits recipients. The government’s own impact assessment reveals that approximately 370,000 people will experience reductions in their payments, affecting their ability to cover basic living costs.
This is likely to spark ongoing debates about the fairness and necessity of the cuts, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.
While those with terminal conditions remain unaffected, the broader implications of the PIP reform for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses raise serious concerns about the long-term impact on vulnerable populations.
