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DWP Confirms Dates for Universal Credit and PIP Reforms

Major changes to welfare benefits, including stricter PIP eligibility and ESA migration to Universal Credit, will begin in 2026, impacting hundreds of thousands of claimants.

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Overview

  • The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed Universal Credit health element reforms will start in April 2026, with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) changes beginning in November 2026, pending parliamentary approval.
  • Under new PIP rules, claimants must score at least four points in one daily living activity and eight points overall to qualify for the daily living component, affecting both new and existing claimants at their next award review.
  • DWP estimates 370,000 current PIP claimants will lose their daily living support by 2029/30, while 430,000 future claimants are projected to be disqualified under the new criteria.
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is being phased out, with migration notices requiring recipients to apply for Universal Credit within three months to avoid losing payments.
  • The government has launched a review of PIP assessments, engaging disabled individuals and experts, while committing to exempting those with severe, lifelong conditions from future Universal Credit reassessments.