Some existing PIP claimants may lose their support group status and be transferred to the universal credit health element, where they may be required to carry out work-related activities, as early as 2026, Benefits and Work can reveal. This directly contradicts the claim by the government that current claimants would not be affected before 2029.

The government announced plans last month to axe the work capability assessment (WCA), which is currently used to decide if claimants should be placed in the limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) group for UC or the support group for ESA.

Under the new plans, claimants who get any element of PIP and who claim UC will automatically be eligible for an additional health element with no need to undergo a separate assessment to decide their capability for work.

However, the new system will not automatically recognize any claimant as unable to carry out any work-related activities.

Instead, if you are receiving the UC health element you may be set both voluntary and mandatory work-related requirements by a work coach and you will be subject to sanctions if you don’t meet the mandatory requirements.

When the plans were announced, the government stated that current claimants would not begin being transferred to the new system until 2029 at the earliest.

Only new claimants were said to be affected initially, with the system being rolled out by geographical area between 2026 and 2029.

However, evidence given to the commons work and pensions committee last week by the DWP contradicted this claim.

Conservative MP Nigel Mills asked DWP representatives what the situation would be for existing PIP claimants who had a review assessment between 2026 and 2029:

“You have a long run-in for this. It will be 2029 before you are worried about people who are already in the system. What happens if I get a called for a new PIP assessment every couple of years and I get one of those in 2027? Does that drop me into the new rules or do I stay under the old ones?”

Katie Farrington, Director General for Disability, Health and Pensions at the DWP answered on behalf of the department:

“With the way we will roll this out, we start from 2026 with new claims only, but we will do it in a geographical, staged way. It would depend which area you were in in 2027. Yes, some people might come in under the new rules, and that means they would automatically get your UC health payment and would automatically get the support.”

Given that an increasing proportion of England and Wales, at least, will be moved onto the UC health element beginning in 2026, this would suggest that many thousands of existing PIP claimants who have a review of their award will find themselves being forced onto the UC health element earlier than 2029.

It will essentially be a lottery, with where you live and when you are reviewed deciding whether you are moved over to the new system early or not.

On a more hopeful note, Mel Stride Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, told the committee that legislation would not even be put before the current parliament:

“This is not being rushed—far from it. A lot of people say that it is getting in early, and I am keen to do so, but it requires primary legislation that will go through the House in the next Parliament. As Katie says, it is then 2026 to 2029 for the new claimants before we get on to the stock of the existing claimants at that moment in time in 2029 onwards.”

Assuming that by “next Parliament” Stride means the next elected government rather than the next parliamentary session, then it will be up to whoever wins the election to decide if these changes go ahead.

However, with the rhetoric from the Labour Party often being similar to that of the Conservatives when it comes to benefits, there is no certainty that the plan will be axed even if there is a change in the ruling party after the next election.

It looks like campaigning against the proposals, by “the stock of the existing claimants” needs to start sooner rather than later.

You can read the minutes of the 29 March meeting of the work and pensions committee here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    No matter what they call it I am still not well to work

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    I receive standard pip, esa (support group) and universal credit, how will this affect me as I'm now out of my mind worrying.?at 63 and still fighting. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 6 months ago
      @Kay I thought the same I will be 71 in October I have serious health issues. My husband is my unpaid carer. Believe me this Government has zero empathy for any of us. As far as they are concerned we are all crooks until proven otherwise.We are also living to long and they don’t like that. The sick the disabled and pensioners need peace and no stress. My GP 
      warned me and my family that I had to avoid stress as much as possible. That’s impossible in this cruel system.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Kay Looks like this Government want to increase the retirement age to 68 then to age 70.
      There needs to be better systems set in place to allow people to retire at age 65. I am age 70 and I struggle to get from A to B. I feel sorry for anyone forced to work until they are 70.My brother is a builder and is struggling at age 61 to get through a working day.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Rod Do not worry at 63 you will get your pension at 66. You will miss this torture
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    It's dispicable and diabolical! It's all too much for us! I'm only just clinging on to pip with my personality disorder diagnosis, I'm 63 anxious and get totally freaked out awaiting pip reviews etc, and phone calls and constantly worrying in between these. Im fed up with trying to prove and justify why I need pip it's allready been lowered to standard rate because I think the lady assessor didn't get me and my problems, (how can they know about every. Mental health issue and disability? so I think 
    Its all about saving money and catching so called  fraudsters. I'd rather work 5 days a week for the 240.00 a month, in a room alone (as don't cope well in a group) doing anything!rather Than try and keep hold of pip! and the constant hell of having this all in the back and forefront of my mind all the time. It's no life its fear fear fear! 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Rod If your not already getting weekly counselling find a local service, I go every week to see my counsellor but it cost me £10 per week as I get a reduced cost as I'm not working. Then put this information down on your assessment or your journal if on UC. Basically engage with as much mental health support as you can, even ask your doctor if your surgery has a health & Wellbeing counsellor, they got me a bath seat and sorted a lot of other stuff out for me.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    The people who run this benefitsandwork website know full well that many people who read these news items suffer from anxiety and get very stressed out regarding their benefits. I do feel that whoever writes these news items has the duty to the members and other readers not to be sensational or needlessly cause undue stress and worry in the way these pieces are written. The title of this piece "Existing PIP claimants may lose support group status as early as 2026" is itself very sensationalist and is bound to cause fear and panic. Please, whoever writes these news items, think carefully about how you write them, keeping in mind the target audience and that many people here have mental health issues and suffer from catastrophic thinking, stress and anxiety.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Alikris Hiya!  I meant to upvote your piece but i mistakenly pressed downvote.  Disregard my downvote as i totally agree with ya! x
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Alikris Exactly my feelings.!! Thankyou for pointing this out. I can’t go to bed for worrying now.!! It’s exhausting on every level.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Alikris They're only passing on the news Alikris, not making it. I think it's really unfair to criticise the one organisation that actively tries to help the long term sick and disabled! Many thousands of us would have been up stink creek without a paddle were it not for Ben and Work!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @David. Don't be fooled that a Labour government will be any different from the Tories, Keir Starmer and new nu Labour are a Fraud and no different from Richie Rich and the Tories Lol.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Alikris Hear hear
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    Imagine being called “stock” because you are disabled.Absolutely shocking,Mel Stride should be brought to account for this.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    My son who is on the ASD and works 16hours per week receives the higher rate of PIP because he cannot cook or use a cooker either gas or electric due to his condition which in his case affects him ,he is afraid it will blow up. How can his PIP change his condition is permanent, there is no cure.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Patricia Thompson He must have qualified under other aspects of the PIP regs,because just being unable to cook would not have put him in the enchanced group.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    What happens to me and people like me who have professional carers organised by the local authority for a big chunk of the day. Are they coming to work with if I am forced? I don't receive care for nothing
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    Wondering how this will affect those who claim Carer's Allowance. I claim CA and get PIP until 2025. On a joint claim for UC but don't get LCWRA. Plus, I will be transferred to ADP at my next review so what's going to happen to claimants in Scotland? 
    My feeling is that "the next parliament" means 2023/2024. They're hardly going to leave it until after the next election because they know they're going to lose it.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    I don’t know if I’m missing something here, but what has the Support Group got to do with PIP?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Jenga It doesn't have anything does it? the support group is for ESA? But it looks like it could have a knock on effect for people who receive ESA and PiP..  unless PiP is being replaced with this UC Health payment?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Ruby How stretched are they in Job Centres that they can watch EVERYBODY?I believe they are overstretched & understaffed like everybody else?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Ruby Ruby - I really don't understand what you have written here. The wca is used for ESA. You don't get put into one of these groups with PIP. PIP may have a similar format but you're either standard or enhanced payment if successful.  The result of PIP has no bearing on which group you're in as regards ESA.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Jenga With the current Work Capability Assessment (WCA) system (that these new proposals aim to replace), you can ask for an assessment. It's pretty much the same form information as for PIP, but they make you do it all again. You then get 'assessed' by someone on the phone (or possibly in person post-pandemic) and they decide whether you have 1. No limitations on your ability to work, 2. A limited capacity for work but could participate in activities to prepare you for work later, eg Job Club, or 3. Limited capacity for work and also for work related activities, meaning you're not required to 'prepare for work' or look for work at all. If you fall into the third category (Limited Capacity for Work Related Activities- LCWRA) then you get an additional payment with your UC to reflect that you are not expected to be able to earn anything whilst claiming, and you are allocated to the 'Support Group' (rather than the WRA group, ie Job Club, being harassed by a work coach, etc). This 'group' doesn't do anything, other than stop you getting chased up as to why you're not working every five minutes.

      As I understand it, they're now going to do away with the WCA system and instead give you the additional UC if you receive PIP (save you applying separately - hooray) but the downside is that LWCRA disappears so it appears everyone will be back in Work Coach harassment hell regardless of how much their disability impairs their ability to work (boo).
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Jenga It’s confusing me too.  It’s taken ages skipping through this with a screen reader. I’m blind and severe mobility and other cognitive and health issues and the thought of trying to make sense of UC online is distressing in the least.  Anyone help please?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    I wonder if anyone has taken prescription charges into consideration we will all be working to pay for medications. Or dying because we can't afford them. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    THERE  is election due  by dec 2024 .  Lets hope conservativies loose  this does not become law . 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @adrian I doubt it would change anything if they did, Labour don't seem to be particularly interested in protecting disabled people (as they've said, they are the party of working people, not grifters, layabouts and parasites like us crips).
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    Hi is this going to happen in scotland as well .And is pip changing to Adb in the UK as well as Scotland 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Bryony PIP to ADP is Scotland only. However, UC will still be UK wide, so I suspect these changes (which are effectively to UC/ESA rather than PIP) will apply both sides of the border :(
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Bryony No, ADP is for Scotland only.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    I am not gone to survive their cruelty and abuse upon me
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @A EDWARDS If CBT does not work for you, are you aware this could be a sign you are on the autistic spectrum? It is very under -diagnosed in women. the NHS 'AQ50' will give you some idea. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Angel I am also worried, as an agoraphobic for 26 years and I have tried everything believe me,from every med under the sun to cbt 9 times and coming off worse for it I am at a loss,I currently have my pip in for renewal and I'm absolutely dreading the assessment, they don't listen,also I'm on contribution based esa in support group,I feel I'm going to lose everything and will dependant on my husbands salary,this is going to cause tension like you wouldn't believe, as I am not going to be beable to pay my share of the bills,what do they expect us to do?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    This is horrendous, just heaping more worries and stress on all of us people that really don't need it as we are suffering enough on a daily basis. We have already had to jump through hoops to get a PIP award and if on Universal Credit too that has been a further assessment to go through to be put in support group, only to  find out that whatever we have wrong with our health we are now going to be treated as if we are as fit as a flea. I have started worrying about this already.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    I'm also confused by this. I have just had my PIP review award dated to March 2029 so review in March 2028 I'm guessing. I have not had an ESA SG ECA since 2018 with no word on whether they will do one as I am surely due. I do not forsee having a COC to force me onto UC so does this mean I'm safe now? Or will they possibly still try to migrate me especially if I fail a WCA? I was so relieved to get my PIP review on Saturday but now I'm really worried again.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    Governments of all colours will always pick on easy targets The ones that will make the least noise and fuss Doing this to people on disability benefits feeds in to the constant narrative that we are all shirkers , malingerers ,work shy and a drain on honest tax payers So this is now how we are seen by many Which all helps to demonise people with disabilities and make it easier to treat us this way
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    i am confused ? what will happen to me at the moment i get full rate pip to june 2028 and esa full rate i do not claim uc my partner works full time in july 2028 it turn 67 and can claim my full pension so if the send for  in the run up to pension age what will happen to my pension ?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Kerry Same here,what's happening with contribution based esa support group? I'm panicking like mad as if I lose pip and contribution based esa how am I gunna pay my half of the bills,I'm spiralling cause I believe they will gave a massive push to get as many off pip as possible even though I can't claim uc cause my husband works full time,not a great salary either
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @Kerry No, it doesn't. You're Contribution Based ESA. Only Income Based ESA are moving to UC. CB ESA will still exist as New Style ESA. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @val It only affects those on means tested benefits. So, as you're Contribution Based ESA ( you must be if husband's wages too high) you won't move to UC anyway, as your type of ESA still exists alongside as New Style ESA. It's in a similar position as I finished work due to ill health before he did. Now we both get CB ESA but don't claim UC.

      The only way you'd have to claim UC would be if you reached Pension Age before your husband  and hadn't enough income to live off ( so say husband had to stop work before then ). You couldn't go on Pension Credit until you were BOTH old enough to get your pensions so he'd have to claim UC for both of you til both your pensions came through..

      I have had the odd one with what they call "mixed age" couples. Where they had Working Tax Credits or Income Based ESA which ended then had to move to UC even though going on Pension in, say, 6 mths !! 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 years ago
      @val I’m the same as you but don’t retire. I get ESA support group and PIP. No universal credit. My husband works full time:
      I wondering myself if this applies to me or not?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    These changes were blagged added always as helping people. Far from it they are all about punishing Ill people with sanctions and making their lives even more miserable. Shame on you.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    so in effect for people who have health issues long tern etc and have been deemed unfit to work by the " system " are now saying that they werent fit to work then but are now even the the disabilty will never change or improve which was what happened to me at a previous assessment which i quiet happily reminded them when i put in my m/r your saying  that my condtion that you deemed made me unfit for work before ive now become suddenly fit for work now with the same condition.What sort of idiot would they be.Makes absolutely no sense 

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 years ago
    I can't be doing with this honestly. I was messed around and made to have anxiety attacks due to the company who deal with ESA messing up with appointments and insisting I need a phone assessment and trying to assess me off a 4+ year old form, in the end I did another and ended up having a paper based assessment. If I was capable of working I'd be working. The new system that they're proposing is ridiculous and cruel.

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