Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Personal Independence Payment

Monday 23 June 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial recognition of anxiety among PIP claimants who scored fewer than four points in living activities.
  • Government data indicates that 85% of current PIP recipients are not at risk of losing payments despite recent assessments.
  • Consultation ongoing for additional support for those who will lose carer's allowance due to changes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Victoria Collins Lib Dem Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Benefits & Welfare
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.

Question

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?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to reforming the criteria, only referenced OBR's view on assessments.

How: Referenced Office For Budget Responsibility

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Q2 Charlotte Cane Lib Dem Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Benefits & Welfare
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.

Question

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?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps for supporting affected claimants, only referenced OBR's view and ongoing consultations.

How: Referenced Office For Budget Responsibility, Consulting On Support Measures

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Q3 Stephen Timms Lab
Benefits & Welfare
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.

Question

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.

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures and timelines for additional support were not provided, only a commitment to consultation and consideration.

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