Overview

• Government has introduced the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, aiming to tighten PIP eligibility and rebalance UC support.
• New PIP assessments set for November 2026 will require claimants to score a minimum of four points in a single daily living activity to qualify for the daily living component.
• Approximately 800,000 PIP recipients and 150,000 carers stand to lose Carer’s Allowance, but those affected will receive a 13-week transitional payment.
• The health element for new Universal Credit claimants will be cut from £97 to £50 per week, with plans to raise the standard allowance above inflation over four years.
• Disability organisations and some Labour MPs warn the reforms risk deepening poverty for vulnerable groups, despite the government’s sustainability and work incentives goals.