The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been forced into a significant policy reversal, shelving immediate plans to tighten the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Government Retreats Following Labour Rebellion
The proposed changes, which would have made it harder for people to claim the health benefit worth up to £187 a week, have been put on hold. This follows a substantial backlash and a rebellion from Labour MPs, which pressured ministers to back down. The controversial clause that would have amended the legal framework for PIP assessments has now been removed from the relevant Bill.
Independent Review Launched
Instead of immediate reform, the government has commissioned a comprehensive, independent review into the future of PIP. This review will be led by Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability. He stated that the process will be co-produced with disabled people, their representative organisations, clinicians, experts, MPs, and other stakeholders.
The key objective is to ensure the PIP assessment is "fair and fit for the future." The review is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2026. Its findings will then be passed back to ministers for consideration before any further decisions are made on the benefit's structure.
What the Proposed Changes Would Have Done
The now-scrapped Clause 5 of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would have introduced a stricter threshold for claimants. It mandated that individuals must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to qualify for the daily living component of PIP.
This tougher criteria would have made it more difficult for people with disabilities and health conditions to make a new claim, and could have resulted in some existing claimants losing their vital payments. The Labour Party, despite the rebellion from its own MPs that forced the government's hand, is likely to face continued internal pressure over any future plans to reduce PIP support.
All proposed eligibility changes are now formally on hold until the independent review delivers its conclusions later this year.
