Keir Starmer is trying to persuade rebel Labour MPs to back his bill, saying that they need to control rising welfare costs. But charities fear that disabled people will be forced into poverty.
Just over 3.7 million people currently receive PIP, worth up to £800 a month to help those with disabilities meet the extra costs of daily living and getting around independently.
square POLITICS The conditions most likely to lose PIP benefit after Labour cuts
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Currently there is no need to get a particular number of points in each category – such as preparing food, washing and dressing – to reach the total eight points required for the daily living allowance.
Disability campaigners fear as many as 1.3 million people could see their PIP daily living allowance cut under the changes set to start in 2026.
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But the Government estimates that a much lower number – around 800,000 current and future PIP recipients – will lose out on the benefit by 2029/30.
That is because the Government is assuming that some people will tailor their new claim to meet the new requirement.
Disability Rights UK dismissed the assumption that “these dangerous cuts will somehow be mitigated by behaviour change” as “absurd”.
How much money will people lose?
The average PIP loss will be £375 a month, or £4,500 a year, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)’s own assessment.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is sticking by plans to reform the benefits system (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty)
Charities have warned that some disabled people would suffer a double blow by losing PIP and having the sickness element of universal credit cut too.
Z2K said the cuts would remove vital support from people with “severe health conditions – many of whom have virtually no prospect of entering the labour market any time soon”.
As many as 150 Labour MPs are thought to be prepared to vote against the welfare bill unless the Government pulls it or makes major changes.
But some Labour rebels have made clear it is not enough.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, agreed. “Poverty delayed is still poverty,” he said, before adding: “If we need to raise money then let’s look to those with the broadest shoulders.”
Labour MPs protest against benefit cuts (Photo: David Mirzoeff/Disability Rights UK)
The Resolution Foundation had previously suggested a six-month transition period to help those losing PIP look for work, if they are able to.
But she told The i Paper that Labour had “missed a major opportunity” to bolster its reforms by failing to fund extra employment support in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent spending review.
“Disabled people are not shirkers or scroungers. Stopping people from working won’t grow the economy,” said Unison’s general secretary Christina McAnea.
Which regions and which conditions will see biggest losses?
A recent report by the group of health academics shows 19 of the 20 constituencies set to suffer the biggest losses from PIP are Labour-held seats in the north.
DWP data also suggests that those with “invisible” physical conditions – including back pain, arthritis, musculoskeletal issues and chronic pain syndromes – are among the most likely to fall foul of the changes.
People with anxiety and depression also appear vulnerable to the cuts. Some 48 per cent of PIP claimants with these mental health conditions did not score four points.
The Government has been approached for comment.
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