Brian Wheeler
Political journalist
Media in Pennsylvania
The government has announced plans for major changes to the system of benefits aimed at reducing the growing amount that the United Kingdom spends well-being.
Stricter tests for personal independence payments (PIP)
PIP is paid to the inhabitants of England and the country of Wales who find it difficult to accomplish daily tasks or to move due to a long -term physical or mental health problem.
This does not mean the means and is available for people who work.
Payments will increase in inflation this year.
But the eligibility criteria will be tightened from November 2026, potentially resulting in payments reduced for many.
It will become more difficult to qualify for the daily component of PIP, which begins at £ 72.65 per week.
There will also be an examination of the PIP evaluation process.
But those who have the most serious conditions will not face reassessments
The government wants more frequent reassessments for many people claiming PIP, with more face -to -face assessments.
But those who have the most serious long -term conditions will no longer be faced with any reassessment, under the proposed reforms.
Evaluation of work capacities to be removed
The evaluation of the work capacities which determines which is eligible for incapacity services will be abandoned in 2028, under proposals.
Instead, people who request financial support and disability support services will be faced with a single assessment, on the basis of the current PIP system.
Incapacity Advantages Frozen payments next year
The incapacity services under universal credit will be frozen in cash for existing applicants at £ 97 per week from April next year – this means that they will not be increased according to inflation until 2029/30.
The amount will be reduced to £ 50 per week in 2026/2027 for new applicants.
But those who receive the new reduced element in universal credit health after April 2026, which have the most serious and most life health problems, which have no prospects for improvement and will never be able to work, will see their income protected by an additional premium.
This also means that those in this group will not be reassessed in the future.
There will also be an increase in inflation higher than the standard universal credit rate for all those looking for work, increasing up to an additional £ 775 per year by 2029/30.
The government claims that this will help fight “perverse incentives” in the system that keeps people in benefits.
Reduction in the advantages of incapacity for those under 22
People under the age of 22 will no longer be able to claim incapacity services supplementing universal credit under these proposals.
The government says that any economy generated by the delay would be reinvested in work support and training possibilities for this age group.
The ministers also consult on the increase in age at which young people go from the invalid life allowance for children at PIP from 16 to 18 years old.
The idea is that young people will have work and training “rather than a path to economic inactivity”, says the DWP.
More incentives to work
The government says it wants to alleviate people’s fears about benefits if they are taking a job and that does not work.
The ministers say that they will present legislation “as soon as possible” to ensure that the test work will not lead to an automatic re -evaluation of the PIP or the work capacities.
Differences in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Most of the measures apply to the whole of Great Britain.
PIP only applies to England and Wales.
If there is a reduction in the PIP budget, a proportional figure will be reduced by the amount that the Treasury gives to the Scottish government.
Scottish ministers would therefore have the choice to apply a similar scale of cuts or find funds from other expenses or taxes to fill this gap.
Most of the measures will not apply directly to Northern Ireland, but the DWP claims that it will work with the decentralized government there on similar movements.
