By Linda Howard
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed a full review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process will not be completed until after proposed reforms are introduced next year. Planned changes to eligibility for the disability benefit are scheduled to come into force in November 2026. Ms Kendall announced several concessions to the welfare reform Bill in Parliament on Monday, confirming that changes to PIP will not affect 3.7 million existing claimants. However, several MPs questioned which set of rules would apply to claimants either reporting a change in circumstances which leads to a reassessment or due an award review. Essentially, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will deliver two versions of PIP – one for claims made before November 2026 and one for those made after the reforms are introduced. Ms Kendall explained that this isn鈥檛 something new in the welfare system and has been seen before with Housing Benefit, and to some extent the State Pension (pre-April 2016 and post-April 2016). Ms Kendall told MPs: 鈥淪ome people have said they are concerned that this will create a two-tier system, but I say to the House, including Conservative Members, that our benefits system often protects existing claimants from new rates or new rules, because lives have been built around that support and it is often very hard for people to adjust. 鈥淔or example, some people still receive the severe disablement allowance, which was closed to new claims in 2001. When Labour introduced the local housing allowance in 2008, existing claimants stayed on the old, higher rates of HousingBenefit, and many people are still on Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which PIP replaced in 2013. 鈥淲e believe that protecting existing claimants, while beginning to focus PIP on those with higher needs for new claimants, strikes the right and fair balance.鈥 The DWP boss also confirmed disabled people would be at the heart of a 鈥榳ider review of the PIP assessment process, led by the Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms. She explained: 鈥淭he review will look at the role of the PIP assessment, including activities, descriptors and the associated points, to ensure that they properly capture the impact of long-term health conditions and disability in the modern world. It will be co-produced with disabled people, their organisations, clinicians, other experts and MPs before reporting to the Secretary of State by Autumn next year, and implemented as soon as possible thereafter.鈥 Ms Kendall also clarified that the PIP review is 鈥渘ot driven by an objective of making savings鈥 but about 鈥渕aking sure that this vital benefit is fair and fit for the future鈥. Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft sought clarity on whether reassessments for existing claimants would fall under the current eligibility criteria or the new, proposed criteria where a minimum of four points would be required in at least one of the 10 daily living tasks in order to qualify for PIP. Under the reforms, claimants would still need either eight points for the standard rate or 12 points or more for the higher rate. But this must include four points from at least one section. Ms Kendall responded: 鈥淎s is the case now, people can request reassessments whenever they want. Existing claimants will remain under the current rules, unless they request a reassessment, until November 2026. From then onwards, there will be that four-point minimum.鈥 Labour MP for Calder Valley, Josh Fenton-Glynn, also sought clarity on the reassessment rules for existing claimants. He asked: 鈥淎s a signatory to the reasoned amendment, I welcome the listening that has gone on, because a lot of people with disabilities will sleep more soundly in their beds knowing that their benefits are protected. 鈥淗owever, on a specific point, if someone currently receives PIP but their condition is getting worse and they ask for a reassessment of the level of their PIP, will they be assessed under the current system or under the new one?鈥 Ms Kendall replied: 鈥淭hey are an existing claimant and they will be assessed – let me be really clear about this – under the existing rules.鈥 However, despite the concessions, Sir Keir Starmer continues to face the prospect of a rebellion over his welfare cuts when MPs vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill on Tuesday. Groups including Disability Rights UK and Disabled People Against Cuts criticised the Government鈥檚 claim that Sir Stephen鈥檚 review would be 鈥渃o-produced鈥 with them and urged Labour rebels to stand firm. They said: 鈥淭he Government have made it very clear that they are intent on slashing the support that so many disabled people rely on to work and live independently, no matter how many disabled people tell them what a harmful policy this will be.鈥 Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said her party鈥檚 MPs would vote against the proposals, describing them as 鈥渘ot serious welfare reform鈥 and saying ministers had 鈥渨atered down the small savings Labour were making鈥. The original proposals were expected to save 拢4.8 billion by 2030, but Ms Kendall revealed on Monday that the revised proposals were likely to save less than half that figure (拢2.5bn).