The Government's "Pathways to Work" proposals are set to introduce the most extensive cuts to disability benefits in a generation, and we are deeply concerned about the severe negative effects these changes will have on disabled people and their families.
Understanding the proposed changes
There are three main changes being proposed that could affect you:
A New "4-Point Rule" for PIP daily living component
What's changing? Currently, to get the daily living component of PIP, you need to score at least 8 points (for the standard rate) or 12 points (for the enhanced rate) across 10 different activities that assess your daily living needs (for more on how the current rules work see Advicenow’s guide).The new rule, which if passed would start in November 2026, will require you to score at least 4 points in one single activity, in addition to meeting the overall point threshold.
What does this mean for you? If your needs are spread across several activities, and you don't score at least 4 points in any one of them, you could lose your PIP, even if your total points are high enough under current rules. For example, if like many people you score 2 points for needing help with cooking, 2 for washing, 2 for dressing, and 2 for managing toilet needs (total 8 points), you currently qualify. Under the new rule, you wouldn't, because you did not score 4 points in any of the activities.
Who will be affected and how much will they lose? Citizens Advice warn that around 1.3 million current PIP daily living claimants – nearly half of all recipients – do not meet this new 4-point threshold. It is likely to particularly affect people over 40, people with conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis, people with cardiovascular diseases, and those with mental health conditions. Some people on the enhanced rate of PIP could lose their award. Benefits and Work think as much as 87% of people currently on the standard rate will lose their award.
The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute warn that people who lose their PIP daily living component, will lose over £3,850 per year if they were on the standard rate, or £5,750 if they were on the enhanced rate. Entitlement to PIP also 'passports' recipients to other help like council tax reducations, being exempt from non-dependent deductions, or eligible for an extra bedroom.
Cuts to the Universal Credit (UC) LCWRA element
What's changing? The extra payment for disabled people assessed as having a ‘limited capability for work and work related activity’, currently worth £423.27 a month, would be significantly reduced. The name of this extra amount will also be changed to the 'health element'.
What does this mean for you? From 2026, if you're a current claimant, this payment will be frozen at £97 per week until 2029/30, leading to an average loss of £500 per year.
If you're a new claimant, this element will be cut by about 50% to £50 per week and then frozen until 2029/30, meaning an average loss of £3,000 per year to new claimants.
They are also consulting on a proposal to prevent young people aged 16-21 years old who are unable to work or do work-related activity from being eligible. This will reduce the income of nearly 110,000 disabled young adults by £5000 per year.
"Rebalancing" or just cuts? The government claims a small increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance is part of a "rebalancing". However, Citizens Advice have calculated that this small increase won't even restore the UC standard allowance to its real-terms value in 2014.
There will be a Severe Disability Premium for those with 'severe and lifelong conditions' who receive the health element of Universal Credit, but no details have been given of what this is or how it would work.
3. PIP daily living component to become the sole gateway to the health top up of Universal Credit
What's changing? From 2028/29, the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) will be scrapped. Which for those of us who know how awful these assessments are sounds like fantastic news, but it isn’t. You will only be able to get the extra health element of Universal Credit if you qualify for the PIP daily living component - and we know that if these proposed changes come in, that will be a lot fewer people than currently do.
What does this mean for you? PIP payments relate to the extra costs of daily living with a disability, while the work capability assessment looks at your ability to work. Linking them means:
- People unable to work but with low daily living needs could lose out. For example, someone with severe anxiety that prevents them from working but doesn't affect personal care might not qualify for PIP, and therefore lose the extra amount on their Universal Credit.
- Those with temporary conditions (like cancer treatment or high-risk pregnancies) might be excluded, as PIP generally requires a condition to last at least 12 months, while the work capability assessment currently allows for 3 months.
- People who only get the PIP mobility component will also lose access to the UC LCWRA element.
- The "double whammy" effect. This is perhaps the most devastating impact. If you lose your PIP daily living component due to the new 4-point rule, you will also lose your UC LCWRA element. Over 900,000 people could be hit by this "double whammy". For those hit by the "double whammy," the financial losses are staggering. An existing claimant could see their annual income fall by almost £9,000 (for standard PIP) or over £10,700 (if they used to get enhanced PIP). This doesn't even include other benefits you might lose that are linked to PIP.
What the impact might be
Worsening health and well-being
Losing vital benefit income often forces people to cut back on essentials like food and healthcare. This can directly worsen existing physical and mental health conditions. The stress and anxiety caused by these proposed changes are already leading to extreme worry, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts among claimants, which often has severe consequences for their mental health. 85% of respondents to The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute’s survey who use PIP to pay for groceries say they will need to significantly cut or stop spending on this, as do 76% who use PIP to pay for essential household bills.
Increasing poverty and child poverty
At a time when (according to the Trussell Trust) 77% of those receiving universal credit and disability benefits are already struggling to cover the essentials, like food and heating, this is unconscionable. According to the Child Poverty Action Group, 44% of the children living in poverty are in households where someone is disabled. These changes will push disabled people and families with children into deeper poverty. Even the government’s own impact assessment concludes it will push an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty.
Increased pressure on public services
Many organisations are warning that the government's "savings" are likely to shift costs elsewhere. As more people are pushed into poverty and their health deteriorates, charities, local councils, schools, and the NHS will face greater demand for crisis support, homelessness assistance, social care, inpatient care and other health services.
Impact on unpaid carers
PIP is a crucial "gateway" benefit for Carer's Allowance and the UC carer's element. An estimated 150,000 unpaid carers could lose these vital benefits as a direct result of the PIP cuts. Many carers are also disabled themselves, facing a double blow. Citizens Advice warns that this could force carers into "impossible decisions" and shift the burden to an "already overburdened social care system."
Undermining employment goals
While the government claims these reforms will encourage work, most charities think they will actually make it harder to work. One-sixth of PIP claimants are currently in work, and their PIP payments often help them stay in work by covering extra costs like transport or therapy. 63% of working PIP claimants who responded to the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute’s survey say they would need to reduce or give up work if they lost their PIP entitlement. It is also just common sense that when you're struggling to afford basic necessities, finding and keeping a job becomes even harder.
Concerns about lack of consultation and existing problems with benefit processes
Many organisations have also raised serious concerns about how these changes are being introduced and how they will impact an already struggling benefits system:
- The government has chosen not to consult on these most significant proposals, limiting the opportunity for disabled people and their representatives, or organisations who support them, to provide feedback.
- The current PIP assessment process is already deeply flawed and often inaccurate, with 68% of appeals overturned in favor of the claimant at tribunals. There's also a known bias against mental health conditions in assessments. Making this flawed system the sole gateway for the additional element of Universal Credit will only make things worse.
- PIP decisions already take an average of 16 weeks, and appeals take much, much longer. Adding the additional element of Universal Credit might leave claimants waiting months or even years for vital support.
What next?
These changes have to be agreed by Parliament before they become law. The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill needs to have:
- a first reading,
- a second reading (when it is debated in the House of Commons and MPs vote on it - currently scheduled for 1st July),
- the committee stage (and maybe a report stage),
- a third reading (this is the final chance for MPs to vote it down), before
- going to the House of Lords who also have the opportunity to make amendments (unless it is certified as a money Bill, in which case the Lords have limited powers).
The Government has a big majority, but many MPs may vote against these proposals. Former shadow disability minister Vicky Foxcroft has already resigned over these proposals. 108 MPs have signed an amendment that would give MPs the opportunity to vote on a proposal to reject the whole bill.
What you can do
The government is putting pressure on MPs to support the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill so it is important that we put as much pressure on them as possible to oppose it.
The most important thing is to email your MP and urge them to vote against the proposals - we have provided a template for you to use/adapt below. Find your MP and email them through Theyworkforyou.com
If you have additional energy, you could also:
- Respond to the consultation (deadline 30th June).
- Email your local councillor(s) about the proposed changes to use their influence to oppose the bill or advocate for better support for disabled people.
- If you are in Wales, Disabled People Against the Cuts have guidance on additional actions you can take, including writing to your Senedd Member.
- Join a demonstration against the proposals - Disabled People Against Cuts have announced a protest rally in Parliament Square on Monday 30 June, starting at 4.30pm. There are likely to be others around the country. Find out more (and find your local group) on the DPAC website.
