The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced significant changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system, aiming to reduce annual spending by around £5 billion.
Experts suggest these reforms are unlikely to affect people with certain disabilities, such as learning difficulties, cerebral palsy, and autism, who tend to meet the stricter assessment criteria.
These changes come amid growing scrutiny of disability benefits and the government’s efforts to balance support with budget constraints. The reforms include tougher eligibility conditions for PIP, cuts to incapacity benefits for some universal credit claimants, and the removal of the health top-up for under-22s, prompting concerns among disability advocates.
Revised Assessment Criteria Focus On Points Threshold, Shielding Some Disability Groups
According to a recent report by the Resolution Foundation, the updated PIP assessment will require claimants to meet a higher points threshold, specifically scoring 21 points or more in the Daily Living component. This adjustment narrows eligibility, reducing the number of successful claims and curbing benefit expenditure.
The report highlights that individuals with learning difficulties, cerebral palsy, and autism are among those least likely to be impacted by the tightening rules.
These groups generally accumulate sufficient points due to the nature of their conditions, ensuring their continued eligibility under the new criteria. The DWP, however, has not publicly released detailed evidence on how these changes will affect different claimant groups.
While the reforms aim to save significant public funds, critics worry about the potential for increased hardship among disabled people who may find it harder to qualify.
Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, cautioned against “balancing the books on the backs of sick and disabled people,” reflecting wider concerns about the fairness of these cuts.
Incapacity Benefit Reductions and Universal Credit Adjustments Create New Challenges
Alongside the PIP reforms, the government plans to alter incapacity benefits for new universal credit claimants judged unfit to work.
While the basic universal credit rate for those seeking employment will increase by approximately £15 a week from April 2026, incapacity benefits will be reduced or frozen, potentially leaving some vulnerable claimants with less financial support.
Another key change involves the removal of the health-related top-up component of universal credit for claimants under the age of 22. This shift could disproportionately affect younger disabled people who rely on this additional financial assistance.
The DWP’s green paper published in March acknowledged that the current assessment process is “not always positive” and pointed to a rise in reported mental health and neurodiverse conditions among younger adults as a factor motivating the review.
However, the lack of transparent impact data has left many disabled individuals and advocacy groups uncertain about the full consequences of the proposed reforms. The ongoing debate underscores the complexities of reforming disability benefits while striving to maintain adequate support for those with serious health conditions.
