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Quarter of a million into poverty, 370,000 to lose PIP daily living

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The savagery of Labour’s cuts to benefits was laid bare today, with the revelation that 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, will be plunged into relative poverty as a result of benefits cuts.  370,000 current PIP claimants are expected to lose their PIP daily living component when their award is reviewed after November 2026.

Figures from the Office For Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the DWP’s own impact and equality assessments emphasise how these cuts are aimed almost solely at disabled people.

According to the DWP:

  • Just 0.1 million families with no disability in the household will lose out, 4% of all those affected.
  • 1 million families with some disability in the household will lose out, 96% of all those affected.

This represents one in five of all families with a disabled person in the household. The average loss will be £1,720 per year compared to inflation. 

370,00 current PIP recipients are expected to lose entitlement to the daily living component on review after November 2026, plus 430,000 future recipients.  The average loss is £4,500 per year.

2.25 million current recipients of UC Health (LCWRA) will be hit by the freeze to this element, with an average loss of £500 a year– although they benefit from the increase in the standard allowance.

In reality, the effects of the cuts could be even greater.

58% of new PIP claimants and 52% of PIP award reviews do not score any 4 point daily living descriptors.  So, on the face of it, this would reduce the number of people getting PIP daily living by 1.5 million by 2029-30, virtually one third. 

But the OBR guesses, and they admit it is only guesswork, that the actual number who lose the daily living component will be reduced to 800,000 because people will fight harder to be awarded a 4 point descriptor, including by challenging decisions.

Whatever the final figure, these cuts represent an unprecedented attack on disabled people that many Labour MPs must be desperate to avoid taking responsibility for. 

But, probably within a month or two, they will have to start trooping through the division lobbies to show their wholehearted support for a policy of impoverishing disabled families in order to balance the books.

You can download the DWP Impact assessment and the equality analysis from the bottom of this page

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Lpot50
    · 7 hours ago
    Response from my mp.

    Dear Lisa

    Thank you for contacting me regarding cuts to welfare benefits.

    I appreciate you getting in touch with me regarding this issue. I have received hundreds of emails from constituents like you who have major concerns regarding the impact reforms to welfare benefits will have.

    Many have shared stories and experiences with me highlighting the personal impact these cuts will have on them. I know this announcement will have created so much fear and anxiety for disabled people, their loved ones and those who are caring for them.

    At the Spring Statement the Chancellor announced that the Government are to go ahead with reforms to the welfare system- cutting £6.4 billion from the budget by 2029/30.

    Disability benefits are a vital lifeline for many people, helping them manage the additional costs they face daily. Cuts to Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit will have a detrimental impact across the country.

    Cutting support or reducing eligibility won’t push more people into work - it will only push more people into poverty. The reality is stark: 77% of people claiming Universal Credit and disability benefits have gone without essentials in the last six months.

    The independent impact assessment has shown that because of these cuts 250,000 more people will be pushed into poverty- including 50,000 children. These cuts won't just cause hardship, they will cost lives. I will not support any policy that will result in my constituents being left poorer and which will widen inequality.

    For 14 years the Tory Government pursued austerity, attacking welfare benefits taking a sledgehammer to the safety net that provided much needed support for those most vulnerable. Now for the Labour Government to pursue policies indistinguishable from the cruelty of Tory austerity goes against the principles and values of our party.

    Last year the country voted overwhelmingly for a Labour Government for the first time in 14 years because they wanted our Government to deliver change. Stripping pensioners of their winter fuel allowance, abandoning the WASPI women owed compensation and cutting benefits payments which will plunge those already struggling into absolute poverty is not the change the Government promised.

    Now is the time for the Government to opt for a wealth tax, as I and many of my colleagues have been calling for. A 2% tax on assets worth over £10 million would raise £24billion a year. This would impact only the very wealthiest people in the country- those who have either inherited their wealth or have benefitted most from the structure of our economy.

    There are ways in which revenues can be raised fairly, rebalancing the scales of power and making those with the broadest shoulders pay their fair share. The alternative is to penalise those with the least, continuing the broken system of taxing workers instead of wealth.

    Politics is about choices and to pursue policies which will make life harder for the poorest people whilst leaving the profits of millionaires and billionaires untouched is inexcusable.

    I urge my colleagues to take a different course of action. I joined the Labour Party to fight for social and economic justice for our class, to bring fairness and equality to our society. In this regard, I am simply unable to support cuts to welfare benefits and will vote against any legislation to enact these changes.

    I am committed to fighting for a society that prioritises welfare not warfare, and where no one is left behind.

    Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me regarding this matter.

    Yours sincerely,

    Kim Johnson MP
    Member of Parliament for Liverpool Riverside 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    340,000 pushed into poverty
    · 16 hours ago
    "around 340,000 people pushed into poverty." - New Economics Foundation

    https://neweconomics.org/2025/03/the-true-scale-and-impact-of-benefit-cuts-for-ill-and-disabled-people
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anonymus
    · 23 hours ago
    Is anybody any further forward with recieving their updated letters for PIP? By yearly update letters i mean the letters with the new April rates. As i am getting quite anxious,stressed out, desperate and rather frustrated about it now. Freaking out. Driving me to the point that im feeling sick.

    I know its not relevent to the subject but thought id ask.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      The Dogmother
      · 22 hours ago
      @Anonymus Got mine two days ago. Later than usual. Don't panic,it might just be a glitch,I can't see it being anything untoward. I hope you will be OK and your mind will be eased soon. We'd a new postie on a few yrs ago, he threw letters in to anyone randomly even dropping some in the street, he was always exhausted  must say I felt sorry for him but when your awaiting something important it's a real worry. Let us know when your letter arrives. 

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Neil Cook
    · 1 days ago
    I've already signed Mp Richard Burgons petition already, and I hope that it gives this government a right royal kick up the a###.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    keepingitreal
    · 1 days ago
    Posting this again because our conversation with The Dogmother is some way down the thread and my law attempt to post it more recently was cut:

    @james, absolutely, the ni contributions should have been a positive thing, but in helping us towards a better state pension they count us out of some or all of the pension credit top up and steal our years of saving into other pensions. The severe disability allowance in pension credit could have mitigated this but the 4 point rule will disqualify us from eligibility if we lose our pip daily living.

    It's a lot to get our heads around and those who have dreamed up this nonsense just haven't got a hold of how it all fits together. This is what we need to bring to the attention of the authorities as well as signing petitions and going on protests because the number crunchers are not moved by tragedy and torment, they need to see the cold hard figures. It's no surprise and it's disgusting that they are heartless, but the epic scandal for me is that the architects of the green paper have not actually done the math, or, more accurately, have not gathered sufficient information to make the calculations.

    Small comfort, but there's no 6K or 16K limit after pension age. If you have above 10K in savings (yes, still too low) deductions of £2/thousand/week are made from any means tested award (pension credit, housing benefit).

    Also, don't forget you can still get housing benefit on the grounds of low income (adjusted according to what that income is), you don't have to qualify automatically via pension credit.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    keepingitreal
    · 1 days ago
    @james, posting this again because it acknowledges your reply and is part of a conversation with The Dogmother some way down the thread:

    It's a lot to get our heads around and those who have dreamed up this nonsense just haven't got a hold of how it all fits together. This is what we need to bring to the attention of the authorities as well as signing petitions and going on protests because the number crunchers are not moved by tragedy and torment, they need to see the cold hard figures. It's no surprise and it's disgusting that they are heartless, but the epic scandal for me is that the architects of the green paper have not actually done the math, or, more accurately, have not gathered sufficient information to make the calculations. 

    Small comfort, but there's no 6K or 16K limit after pension age. If you have above 10K in savings (yes, still too low) deductions of £2/thousand/week are made from any means tested award (pension credit, housing benefit).

    Also, don't forget you can still get housing benefit on the grounds of low income (adjusted according to what that income is), you don't have to qualify automatically via pension credit.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    george25
    · 1 days ago
    I emailed MP had a IMMEDIATE ( super fast it startled me)reply  only to read it was a automated one saying received but stating they have so many emails the ones deemed needing immediate replies  were to be replied to first  ! ( Of course we won't be in those I doubt ) and also changes in policies were on his FB page regularly lol so I'm guessing that I won't get a individual reply though I asked was he supporting the cuts and the 4 point criteria change for pip specifically, and said i sincerely hope he was not ! So I'm wanting a answer on that please ! I also cancelled my labour membership when the state came out and had no recognition plus a email from Rachel reeves with blah blah stuff in it AFTER I had cancelled my membership grating to say the least .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    CaroA
    · 1 days ago
    I have written to my MP on a few occasions in the last six months but now don't even get an automated reply.  They seem to have gone underground burying their head in the sand.  I decided to find their telephone number and leave a message saying how concerning this is.  This I think would be a very good way for them to hear our voices it is so difficult for so many of us to attend protests in person but this way at least somebody on the staff in the MPs office can hear the distress all of this is causing in our voices.  Just a thought - otherwise I will be signing every petition I can find thanks for everyone for posting these.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Marc
    · 1 days ago
    Half of job centres reducing support over shortages

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gingin
    · 1 days ago
    This BBC article shows that the so called plans for increased job centre support for disabled people is smoke and mirrors

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mick
    · 2 days ago
    I get 4+4+3+2+2 with a light touch in 7 years ( was 10) Wondering how I will fare!

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      PB
      · 1 days ago
      @Mick You would be OK if reassessed the same way (and if those 4s are for Daily Living, not Mobility)

      Best wishes.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Chlo
    · 2 days ago
    I'm only on the LCWRA group and although I've been entitled for it for many years, never signed up to PIP simply because I felt like I get enough from being on the LCWRA group, but now I'm hearing that if you're not on PIP then your LCWRA can be removed. Is anyone else is this situation? Does it mean that I should sign on PIP? I believe I still qualify due to mobility and not able talking to people as I have severe agoraphobia, I just never felt the need in the past as I never wanted to claim and get more than what I needed despite being entitled to it.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Scorpion
      · 53 minutes ago
      @WorkshyLayabout "The PIP form has fewer questions than the ESA50/UC50 form."

      Then, why does the PIP form have more pages compared to the ES50 form?

      I posted this very same question a few hours ago and hasn't shown up yet!!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Neil Cook
      · 3 hours ago
      @Chlo I'm LCWRA only, tried for pip but got no answer either way. Phoned numerous times but was on hold so long each time my temper would just get worse each time so I rang off coz it wouldn't be fair on whoever would end up getting the call and be faced with my extremely irritated self
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bert
      · 7 hours ago
      @Anon Good point about mass unemployment.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 9 hours ago
      @Scorpion Yes. Patently evil. With a constant schadenfreude smirk. 

      Well. Almost everybody who fails the 4-point PIP test will take it to tribunal. There will be an avalanche of PIP tribunal appeals. Each case will drag on for up to a year or more.

      But, will people continue to receive a pre-existing LCWRA monthly payment whilst they are awaiting a tribunal appeal for a failed 4-point PIP test? No way to find out.

      But in fact, it's much, much worse than this. The result of the next general election will either be Reform or Tory, or a coalition of both. They will practically dismantle the whole welfare system.

      Depending on UC and PIP is not going to be an option for much longer. By that time, there will be barely any jobs either, and probably 8 to 10 million unemployed.

      What's on the horizon is much worse than you think.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      WorkshyLayabout
      · 16 hours ago
      @Scorpion It's a tough one. With our current/another Machiavellian government in power whose actions of immoral tactics, deceit and treachery are there only to serve themselves and not the voting populace, assuming the worst is your best policy.

      My take on the matter is that anyone enduring ordeal by WCA before these changes come in (if they ever do) will still have to apply separately for PIP. No government gives poor people money on a whim. 

      Citizens Advice is advising anyone likely to qualify for PIP to apply before the changes.

      It's great for everyone who can get 4 points in one category and at least 8 points overall. Not so great for the rest of us. Had Liz Kendall announced that PIP would be used to qualify for both PIP and LCWRA and had kept the current PIP scoring system (8 points minimum, no necessity to get 4 points in one category), it would be simpler. The PIP form has fewer questions than the ESA50/UC50 form. Overall points needed is the same in the current system and the proposed new system. The 4 pointer is the problem. 

      Seemingly Niccolò Machiavelli has been reincarnated and placed in as our "great and glorious" leader. 

      To put it more succinctly, we're screwed. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anon
    · 2 days ago
    An article from 2021. Probably worth sending to MPs who will vote for the cuts. I doubt they'd care, though:


    "Those who worked for outsourced Work Programme providers, who were under financial pressure to find job “outcomes” for claimants, described how managers pressured them to “push” disabled people into work.

    One former Work Programme adviser told the research team: “[I had] a lovely guy who I really felt for who had mental health issues and the day after I had to reluctantly mandate him to something – he attempted suicide."

    “I also had another lady who we pushed into work and it made her that ill she had a fit in her new job and was admitted to hospital.”

    Another Work Programme adviser said that some colleagues seemed to thrive on their ability to inflict harm and “enjoyed the stick”.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Matt
      · 1 days ago
      @Anon I did mention, when completing the sham Green Paper consultation, that there should be no financial incentive for assessors (few of whom are medically qualified) for withdrawing PIP from claimants, but if the Govt insists that this is to be continually outsourced, employees of such companies won't work on a basic minimum wage basis - like financial advisers, their main source of income will be commission, and to earn commission they will have targets to get as many of PIP/UC etc as possible,
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Neil Cook
    · 2 days ago
    Has anyone watched DDUK videos they're saying it could be about £9 billion cuts not around £5billion. God help us if som
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      james
      · 2 days ago
      @Neil Cook Yes it will be as many other qualifying benefits specially for people going into pension will be lost as will carer allowances and housing benefits
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bert
      · 2 days ago
      @Neil Cook Your right didnt the tories want 12 billion though and reform want a similar amount. I expect Reeves to revisit this in october as we are going to be affected by Trumps trade tariffs.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Victor
    · 2 days ago
    Social justice should be for everyone, but if this is not possible, then those who work should be sure that if something happens to them, then at least from the age of 50 they will be able to receive PIP in the usual way, and not die on the street hungry.
    After 50 years, people begin to experience various strong changes in the body and this is not me saying, but nature. Whether you want it or not, but changes will still occur, as a rule, for the worse. For people with disabilities, this is usually a critical period from 50 to 60 years.

    If the government wants to change something, then most likely it should be done like this:
    1. Daily living component - without Mobility part.
    At least one of the descriptors you select must score 4 points or more and you will qualify for an award.
    2. From 20 to 50 years old.
    Daily living component and Standard Mobility (8 points).
    At least one of the descriptors you select must score 4 points or more and you will qualify for an award.
    3. From 50+ years old.
    Daily living component and Standard Mobility (8 points).
    If you select 4 descriptors scoring 2 points each, that will be 8 points and you will qualify for an award.
    4. Daily living component and Enhanced mobility (12 points).
    If you select 4 descriptors scoring 2 points each, that will be 8 points and you will qualify for an award.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      The Dogmother
      · 21 hours ago
      @bert We can't let them divide us like that. There are numerous under 30 year olds who are just as unwell and disabled as us older folk. 
      I'd NEVER  agree that one is more deserving than the other,we don't really know what hell others go through no matter their age. It's hard enough to apply and ultimately be awarded benefits, as a disabled community we know this very well, so if anyone of whatever age gets through the form,assessment,the wait and the award I'd say they deserve it,never mind those of us who have to fight harder through an mr and - or Tribunal. Nobody gets handed their benefits easily. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 1 days ago
      @bert No. Not if they're unable to work because of their ill health or disability.

      Only job seekers who are able to work, regardless of their age, should be the group they focus on.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bert
      · 1 days ago
      @Victor The under 30s should be the group they focus on for work.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    The Dogmother
    · 2 days ago
    People claiming PIP in this age bracket are most at risk from DWP cuts

    Source: Chronicle Live

    Shared via the Google App

    Don't know what you guys think if this. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Tim
      · 19 hours ago
      @The Dogmother Oh great, so those over 50 years of age could/will be the hardest hit. Yet again the pensioners get it in the neck.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      The Dogmother
      · 1 days ago
      @bert No.. I'll pass. I'd rather not go anywhere near them. 
      I'll sort it on my end. 
      I dont want to have to do lt  ,like so many others. They wanted us on it then they should be doing it. 
      When the time comes,and im waiting to the bitter end, my sister will help. I'm too unwell to go anyway, I dont go out, Once a month out of necessity maybe. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      bert
      · 1 days ago
      @The Dogmother Universal Credit migration is straight forward go to the job centre and use their compters if possible the staff are helpful in my experience.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      keepingitreal
      · 1 days ago
      @james
      @james, absolutely, the ni contributions should have been a positive thing, but in helping us towards a better state pension they count us out of some or all of the pension credit top up and steal our years of saving into other pensions. The severe disability allowance in pension credit could have mitigated this but the 4 point rule will disqualify us from eligibility if we lose our pip daily living.

      It's a lot to get our heads around and those who have dreamed up this nonsense just haven't got a hold of how it all fits together. This is what we need to bring to the attention of the authorities as well as signing petitions and going on protests because the number crunchers are not moved by tragedy and torment, they need to see the cold hard figures. It's no surprise and it's disgusting that they are heartless, but the epic scandal for me is that the architects of the green paper have not actually done the math, or, more accurately, have not gathered sufficient information to make the calculations.

      Small comfort, but there's no 6K or 16K limit after pension age. If you have above 10K in savings (yes, still too low) deductions of £2/thousand/week are made from any means tested award (pension credit, housing benefit).

      Also, don't forget you can still get housing benefit on the grounds of low income (adjusted according to what that income is), you don't have to qualify automatically via pension credit.





    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Mr Fibro
      · 1 days ago
      @keepingitreal (I believe if you carry your pip into state pension age it should be a lifetime award without review, unless you request a review (with no risk) for higher daily living needs.)


      Labour have no mercy, they won't let this happen if you go into state pension age & carry it over.  

      Come october 2025 they will attack the welfare state even further, because they have already robbed us of over 9 billion quid in this mini spring statement ( budget).

      And they know the British public have simply cowered down and rolled over.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    orchid2819
    · 2 days ago
    There is a petition on change.org against the proposed new 4 point PIP rule, started by a claiment who is going to be very badly affected by it, as so many of us will. 


    I was concerned that so few of us had signed it. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE!! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Marc
    · 2 days ago
    I wonder if the Commons vote may now be delayed? 

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      MJ
      · 2 days ago
      @Marc They should definitely delay it until a proper impact study is done but no mention that they intend to do that. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Glissando
    · 2 days ago
    I am sick with fear. I am disabled in my 60s and have no family to look after me. I don't know what I will do. And we are so hated, aren't we. What Labour is doing is popular. I have no hope. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anniesmum
    · 2 days ago
    From the last leg tv show- https://youtu.be/iBZEx75qZjM?si=gD5VdTUzXOXb5F0B

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