Personal Independence Payment 2025-06-23
2025-06-23
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
MP Victoria Collins cited the Office for Budget Responsibility's assessment that many people on the PIP daily living component who did not get four points in any activity at their last assessment are feeling anxious. She highlighted specific cases, including Jemima from Harpenden with severe physical disabilities and thyroid cancer.
The response to my recent written question on disability benefits applications listed the 18 most common disabilities and health conditions and showed that hundreds of thousands of people were awarded fewer than four points in all living activities and will miss out on the daily living component of PIP. They include people like Jemima in Harpenden, who suffers from severe physical disabilities and thyroid cancer and finds even walking very difficult. Will the Government please commit to reforming the criteria to better reflect the full complexity of claimants’ conditions?
I recognise that many people who are on the PIP daily living component who did not get four points on anything at their last assessment are feeling rather anxious. However, what they need to know—I hope the hon. Member will reassure her constituents on this—is that it is the view of the Office for Budget Responsibility that most of them will nevertheless still have their PIP after their fresh assessment once the changes have been introduced. They will be introduced in November next year and an individual’s assessment will take place whenever their first award review is after that date. The OBR is confident and clear that most of those people will keep their PIP.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reforming the criteria, only referenced OBR's view on assessments.
Referenced Office For Budget Responsibility
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Over 4,500 people in Ely and East Cambridgeshire claim PIP. According to Government data, 85% of those receiving standard payments and 11.5% of those with enhanced payments will lose support under proposed changes.
Over 4,500 people in Ely and East Cambridgeshire claim PIP, and they are not just anxious, as you put it; they are seriously worried that they are going to lose the payments and, with them, their independence. Contrary to what you said—the Government’s own data suggests that 85% of people getting standard payments and 11.5% of those getting enhanced payments will lose support under the proposed changes. What steps is the Minister taking to support those who will be affected, including to make sure that their health and eligible care needs are met and, most importantly, that they can maintain their independence?
It is really important for claimants of PIP that its funding should be sustainable into the future. The trajectory of the past few years has been unsustainable. We are taking action to put that right. The hon. Member is wrong to say that because people did not get four points last time, they will not keep their PIP. As I said, the view of the OBR, which I think is correct, is that most of them will. We are consulting on how to support those who will lose their PIP as a result of the changes that we have announced.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps for supporting affected claimants, only referenced OBR's view and ongoing consultations.
Referenced Office For Budget Responsibility
Consulting On Support Measures
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the impact of recent changes in universal credit and carer’s allowance, particularly noting the concerns raised by the Institute for Fiscal Studies about the potential negative effects on certain groups.
Among households as a whole, there will be more net gainers than net losers from the package. The reason for that is the increase to the standard allowance of universal credit, which according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies is the biggest increase to the headline rate of benefit since at least 1980. We are consulting on support for those who will lose carer’s allowance because of the changes and considering what additional help they may need, including for health and care needs.
We are consulting on support for those who will lose carer’s allowance because of the changes and considering what additional help they may need, including for health and care needs. The hon. Member will have seen in the Bill we have published that we have committed to a 13-week run-on of benefit after an assessment decision so that people have time to adjust to the new situation.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures and timelines for additional support were not provided, only a commitment to consultation and consideration.
Response accuracy