Thousands of disabled individuals across the UK may lose over £5,700 a year in benefits due to sweeping reforms proposed for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system—exceeding previous estimates by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Critics warn the reforms could push vulnerable people deeper into poverty, strain public services, and leave many without essential support.
What’s Changing in the PIP System?
PIP is a financial support benefit provided to individuals with long-term health conditions or disabilities who face difficulties with daily living or mobility. As part of a broader plan to reduce welfare spending, the government is proposing significant changes to how PIP is awarded and how it integrates with other benefits.
The proposed reforms would tighten the eligibility criteria for PIP. Under the new rules, claimants would need to score at least four points in a single category to qualify. For example, they must demonstrate significant difficulty cooking, washing, using the toilet, or require over 3.5 hours of therapy per week. This change could see up to one million people losing their PIP entitlement altogether, according to The Independent.
The Financial Impact
While the DWP previously suggested modest financial savings per claimant, updated analysis from the Resolution Foundation suggests the impact could be much more severe. Individuals losing PIP could face annual losses ranging between £4,200 and £6,300. In cases where PIP cuts overlap with changes to Universal Credit (UC) entitlements, total losses could reach £10,000 per year.
The foundation’s report states:
“These changes, if implemented in full, could result in the steepest drop in disability benefit income in over a decade.”
Changes to Universal Credit
The reforms also include major revisions to Universal Credit health-related elements, which are currently awarded based on the Work Capability Assessment. This assessment is set to be scrapped by 2028 and replaced with a system that links UC health entitlements directly to PIP eligibility.
This change could disproportionately affect those who qualify for UC health support but do not meet the new PIP criteria. Beginning April 2026, new claimants will see the UC health element halved, while existing recipients will experience a freeze on rates until 2029/30. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimates these changes could lead to losses of £2,500 annually for new claimants, and £280 for those already receiving the benefit (IFS Report).
Wider Social Impact
The think tank Policy in Practice warns that over 230,000 current recipients and 600,000 potential claimants could lose not just financial aid, but also access to support services, such as housing assistance and NHS-related benefits. The group cautioned the reforms risk making “ill and disabled people invisible” in the eyes of public policy (The Guardian).
Disability advocacy organisations, including Scope and Mind, have issued strong responses condemning the proposed changes. They argue the cuts will lead to worsening mental health, increased homelessness, and greater pressure on already overburdened public services.
Government’s Rationale
The government, however, defends the reforms as necessary for fiscal sustainability. According to the Department for Work and Pensions, welfare spending on disability and incapacity is projected to reach £70 billion annually by 2030—an unsustainable figure in the current economic climate.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stated the changes are part of a long-term strategy to “modernise the welfare system, support those who can work, and provide fair assistance to those who need it most.” The reforms are expected to save approximately £5 billion by the end of the decade, according to official government data.
The Political Backlash
Opposition parties have criticised the government’s approach. Labour’s shadow ministers have expressed concern over the rapid timeline for implementation and the lack of transitional support for affected claimants. Liberal Democrat and Green MPs have also called for urgent Parliamentary debates and a full impact assessment.
Campaigners argue that the reforms violate the UK’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The UN has previously criticised the UK for “grave and systematic violations” of disabled people’s rights in the context of austerity-era welfare cuts.
What Should Claimants Do?
Claimants currently receiving PIP or planning to apply in the future are encouraged to:
- Visit the official PIP page on GOV.UK for updated eligibility criteria.
- Use the benefits calculator to assess how changes could affect them.
- Seek advice from organisations such as Citizens Advice or Scope for personal guidance.
Conclusion
As the UK moves forward with these reforms, the tension between economic necessity and social responsibility continues to grow. While the government insists the changes are essential to curb rising welfare costs, disability advocates, economists, and policy analysts warn that the long-term social cost could be far higher.
