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Wales Online
9 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
DWP announces 13-week PIP rule ahead of benefits shake-up
DWP announces 13-week PIP rule ahead of benefits shake-up The DWP has announced a 13-week transitional protection period for benefit claimants 'This will give people peace of mind' (Image: Media Wales Ltd. ) The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced measures to temporarily safeguard benefit payments for those impacted by the upcoming amendments to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme. Under the new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, claimants facing changes will experience a 13-week grace period before their PIP funds are stopped. This temporary provision extends particularly to current beneficiaries whose PIP daily living component is modified, influencing their eligibility for Carer's Allowance and the carer element within Universal Credit. According to the DWP, this provisional cover significantly surpasses previous measures, offering over three times the duration of secure payment transitioning from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here Previously, DLA served as the principal disability aid before PIP took its place. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced in the House of Commons in March, the proposal to change PIP under the initiative to trim the benefits bill by billions, reports the Liverpool Echo. Current data from the DWP illustrates that there are around 3.7 million PIP claimants across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, noting the replacement of PIP with the Adult Disability Payment in Scotland. Liz Kendall commented on the pressing need for reform: "Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. Article continues below "This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. "This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot - putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change." Thomas Lawson, CEO of anti-poverty charity Turn2us, commented: "There is no moral justification for cutting the support that allows sick and disabled people to meet their basic needs, live independently, and fully take part in society. "The positive plans of the government's longer-term reforms are being undermined by these harmful Treasury-driven cuts. Stripping away support will push people deeper into hardship, not employment. It will worsen health conditions, and make recovery harder." What is PIP? PIP, or Personal Independence Payment, is a benefit designed to assist individuals who require additional help with everyday activities due to an illness, disability, or mental health condition. However, eligibility for PIP does not hinge on the condition itself but rather on the impact it has on your life. Typically, you must undergo an assessment using a points-based system before your PIP claim is accepted. If your application is approved, you'll receive PIP for a set period before it's reviewed. PIP can be awarded for a minimum of nine months, or up to an "ongoing" award, which gets reviewed every decade. For individuals who are terminally ill, the duration of the award is three years. PIP consists of two components: the daily living component and the mobility component. What is the current process for PIP assessment? Your PIP assessment can take place face-to-face, over the phone, or via video call. During the evaluation, a health professional might request that you perform simple tasks or answer questions to assess your cognitive abilities. Throughout your evaluation, points will be assigned to you for the daily living and mobility segments of PIP. If your score for daily living needs in the PIP test falls between eight and 11 points, you'll secure the standard rate for the daily living part. A score of 12 points or above qualifies you for the higher rate of the daily living component. You're entitled to the standard rate for the mobility part if you tally between eight to 11 points for mobility needs. Accumulating 12 points or more means receiving the elevated rate of the mobility component. Those diagnosed with terminal illnesses are exempt from undergoing a PIP medical evaluation. How is PIP changing? Earlier this year, the Labour Party revealed proposals to tighten the criteria for PIP eligibility and confirmed the assessment procedure would undergo scrutiny as well. Upcoming alterations mean that to be eligible for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from November 2026, a minimum of four points in at least one activity will be necessary. At present, PIP eligibility can be met with lower scores across multiple tasks. This adjustment signifies claimants must demonstrate more significant challenges in activities like washing, eating, and dressing to qualify for PIP. No changes are being proposed for the PIP mobility component. The bulk of PIP assessments will shift to in-person rather than remote via telephone or video. "Reasonable adjustments" will remain for those unable to attend in-person evaluations. Persons with enduring or deteriorating health issues won't require reevaluation under the new strategy, although others could face more regular reassessments. Eligibility for exemption from reassessment due to certain conditions won't be predetermined but rather assessed individually. Article continues below What is the value of PIP? A lower rate of £73.90 weekly or a higher rate of £110.40 weekly can be expected for the daily living allowance. Meanwhile, the mobility allowance can net £29.20 weekly at the lower rate or £77.05 weekly at the higher rate. As PIP payments occur every four weeks, maximum rates for both daily living and mobility components would equate to £749.80 per payment period.
North Wales Live
10 hours ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
DWP PIP benefit changes announced by government ahead of major shake up
The government has revealed plans to provide three months' worth of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) benefits to claimants whose subsequent applications are rejected, as outlined in the newly published welfare bill. As part of proposed changes to PIP, the government has introduced additional safeguards for the most vulnerable benefit recipients, which will be enshrined in law. However, the proposed reforms have been met with criticism, being labelled as "cruel" and "unjust". The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, set to be presented to Parliament, includes a 13-week financial safety net for claimants impacted by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who risk losing Carers Allowance and the carer's element of Universal Credit. According to the government, this temporary protection aims to provide individuals affected by the changes with time to adapt, access tailored employment support, and plan for their future following reassessment and the end of their entitlement. Furthermore, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that over 200,000 individuals with severe, lifelong conditions will be exempt from future reassessments for Universal Credit entitlement. Those meeting the Severe Conditions Criteria, who are deemed unable to work, will not undergo reassessment and will receive the higher rate of UC health top-up, amounting to £97 per week, reports the Manchester Evening News. However, as part of the Bill, the government is planning on cutting the health rate of new Universal Credit claims to £50 from April 2026. It comes after Labour announced its major overhaul to the disability benefit in March, with proposed changes affecting the eligibility criteria of the benefit in a bid to cut down welfare spending. The changes are expected to take effect from November 2026, impacting both new and existing claimants. It has not yet been confirmed how many will be affected by the cuts - however it is thought the changes to PIP will slash benefits for about 800,000 people. In the coming weeks, legislation will also be drafted for a Right to Try Guarantee - meaning that trying work will not lead to a reassessment or award review of your benefit claim. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. "This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. "This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot - putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change." National disability charity Sense has called the Bill "unjust" and "cruel" and has said it is extremely concerned about these proposed changes to disability benefits. Research from the charity has revealed that half of disabled people with complex needs are already in debt due to benefit payments not going far enough. Chief Executive James Watson-O'Neill said: "The government's proposed cuts to disability benefits will have devastating consequences for disabled people across the country - pushing thousands further into poverty, hardship, and isolation. "Many disabled people already find themselves in debt because current benefits don't stretch far enough. Cutting support further at a time when the cost of living remains high is not only unjust - it is cruel. "We urge MPs to listen to disabled people and reject this legislation. Our welfare system should support those who need it most - not abandon them. "We're especially alarmed by plans to cut the Universal Credit uplift for those with the greatest barriers to work. Many of the disabled people and families we support have told us they're frightened - uncertain how they'll afford food, heating, or other basic needs without this vital support. This comes on top of worrying changes to PIP, which we've heard from many of our disabled staff and community helps them to stay in work." James Taylor, Director of Strategy at disability equality charity Scope, called the bill 'catastrophic'. He said: "This bill will be catastrophic for disabled people. "Cutting benefits will plunge hundreds of thousands into poverty. Over 800,000 will lose at least some financial support from PIP. It will have a devastating effect on disabled people's health, ability to live independently or work. "A transition period will only temporarily delay a cut and disabled people will continue to be living with extra costs when it comes to an end. "Life costs more if you are disabled, whether or not you are working. The government needs listen to disabled people and change course." Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at the Mental Health Foundation, added: "This bill is a disaster for disabled people, and we urge MPs to reject this legislation in its current form. It will take vital financial support away from hundreds of thousands of disabled people, many of whom have mental health problems. Previous austerity measures worsened people's living conditions, undermined their mental health and increased the risk of suicide and premature deaths – and that's likely to be the case here too. "These plans will not help the UK government reduce the number of disabled people out of work. Personal Independence Payment is also granted to disabled people who are in work to help them meet the cost of their disability – and removing this support will make it harder for them to remain in the workforce. The Office for Budget Responsibility has also said there is no robust analysis showing this will encourage anyone to return to the workforce. Given that, our view is that these cuts are counterproductive and cruel. "A more effective alternative for the government would be to move forward with its progressive policies that encourage people to return to work, such as the Right to Try scheme and improvements to support in job centres, and evaluate how these help people return to the workforce. Cutting support for disabled people without knowing that is a recipe for disaster." At Prime Minister's Questions earlier today, Angela Rayner said she knows some people are "fearful" of changes to Personal Independence Payments and carer's allowance, but that Labour will support those who need it. Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "Liberal Democrat analysis of the Government's own data suggests that 1.3 million disabled people are at risk of losing some support. So can the Deputy Prime Minister honestly say, hand on heart, that this is a change that one million disabled people and their carers were promised?" Ms Rayner responded: "Labour is the party of work, and also the party of fairness and social justice. We've announced a plan to get Britain working again, and we're clear on the principles and I want to be clear on that. Those who want to work should be able to work, and those who can never work should be protected... "I know how some people are fearful of the changes, but this Labour Government put its values into place and will ensure that people are supported into work where they can and, where they can't, they are supported."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'The Government is taking money away from the most vulnerable people'
Angie Williams' daughter Vincent suffers from cystic fibrosis, autism and scoliosis and says she'll be able to afford to live if her PIP payment is taken away Vulnerable people who are claiming PIP have accused the government of targeting society's most vulnerable by stopping benefits as part of the new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. This is despite Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) confirmation that benefit claimants affected by proposed changes to PIP will have their payments protected for a 13 week transitional period. Existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who lose their eligibility to Carers' Allowance and the carers' element of Universal Credit, who will receive the additional protection, feel it is nowhere near enough. Vincent Williams , from Hartlepool has cystic fibrosis, autism and scoliosis and is a history student at Nottingham University. Her mum Angie also has multiple health conditions, including cancer, and her dad is retired. Vincent, 20, says: 'PIP is my lifeline. If it's taken away I'll have no income except student finance – I won't be able to buy groceries and other basic essentials. I won't be able to afford to live. 'I've been applying for summer jobs – I have the relevant experience ,but I'm not even getting a response. The government says they want people on PIP in work, but how are they going to facilitate this? 'Businesses are less willing to hire people with medical problems. I had a job in 2023 and I told them about my medical issues when they hired me. But on the days when I was ill and needed to go to hospital there was no understanding. They made it clear I was 'inconvenient' and the workplace was not supportive. 'The changes to the point scoring system will affect me as I don't score four in any category – yet my chest problems affect me to the point that some days I can't breathe at all. 'I am really upset with the Government. People voted for change and voted for a party they thought would be different, but what Labour is doing is going against their own party values.' Vincent's mum Angie Williams, 56, says: 'Vincent has been looking for work but when people find out about her cystic fibrosis and autism they are not interested. 'There is a lot of discrimination. She is going into her third year and wants to do teaching but who will take her on? Keir Starmer has no idea. How is Vincent supposed to live if PIP is taken off her? The Government is taking money away from the most vulnerable people and I think there will be suicides.'' A new 13-week transitional period before payments are stopped has been revealed as part of the new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, released today. The additional protection will apply to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer's element of Universal Credit. The DWP says this transitional cover is more than three times the length of protection provided from the switch to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP. DLA used to be the main disability benefit in the UK until it was largely replaced by PIP. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall first announced proposals to change PIP in the House of Commons in March this year, as part of wider measures to reduce the benefits bill by billions of pounds. Today Ms Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, published the government's universal credit and personal independence payment bill, claiming it represents 'a new social contract' and that it will bring claimants 'peace of mind') She also claimed the three-month transitional payment for people who are losing Pip is 'one of the most generous' transitional payments ever offered as part of a benefit change.
