PIP and DLA will not be means-tested, minister finally confirms

Details: Published: 15 November 2022

The DWP “have no plans” to means test DLA or PIP, a DWP minister stated yesterday, ending weeks of doubt on the issue and following many MPs receiving emails on the issue from Benefits and Work members.

As Benefits and Work reported on 2 November, Mel Stride, the secretary of state for work and pensions refused to give an assurance that DLA and PIP would not be means tested

In answer to a question on the subject, he would only say:

“The right honourable gentleman is inviting me to break with what has been a very, very long-standing and quite correct convention that when it comes to a major fiscal event, ministers simply do not provide a running commentary as to what may or may not be in that fiscal event.”

We alerted our readers to the possibility and urged them to contact their MP on the subject. From your comments and emails we know that hundreds of you did so.

Yesterday the question was asked again in writing by Labour MP Marsha De Cordova

“To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to means test the (a) Disability Living Allowance and (b) Personal Independence Payment.

In answer, Tom Pursglove minister for disabled people at the DWP, replied:

“We have no plans to means test Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

“Both DLA and PIP are intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition, or disability, and have been non-means tested since they were introduced.”

So, it seems that the “very, very long-standing and quite correct convention” that ministers do not comment on fiscal events can, in reality, be broken – if enough people email their MPs on the subject.

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LIz · 2 years ago
If you have seen the power of trolls and cancel culture on twitter, then you know that all you have to do is become one yourself online but for yourselves, regarding this issue, online, on social media. You dire try tag them, tweet them, Instagram them, write about them, spread awareness, and it will be over for them before either an even start. The loud get heard. Its never been about justice. So if we want justice we have to scream about it.
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Danny · 2 years ago
I have recently come out of rehab for my drinking but it has not worked for me. I hardly leave the house. I'm only getting 250 month so the little pip I get may end at any time now. I rely on my mum a lot for food and help with gas and electric always in tears . I don't know what I will do if they stop my pip. Really worried
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Teresa · 2 years ago
I'm listening to the budget he said he as asked Mel stride to overhaul the benefits in January could this still be coming.i cannot take much more sleepless nights till January just tell us now no your not going to means test or yes we are looking at it .stop hiding the truth .Have some b**** give us peace of mind
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  Mr B · 2 years ago
  
  @Teresa Hi Teresa
  
  I am sorry to hear that you are still troubled by the means testing issue. I too followed the Autumn Statement; in fact I watched it online. For those wanting to watch it on catch up you cand do so at the following link:
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VUW5GQZ4zI
  
  I think you have misunderstood what Jeremy Hunt said he'd asked the DWP Secretary of State to do Teresa and I suggest you listen to it again, from memory it is about 20 minutes into the statement. What he asked Mel Stride to do has nothing whatsoever to do with means testing! I hope this post may help you Teresa but although it gives me no pleasure to say so NO-ONE can give you, me or anyone else "peace of mind," we have to find it within ourselves and despite everything that life throws at us!
  
  May you find true peace of mind within yourself Teresa!
  
  Best wishes
  
  Mr B
  
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Phil c · 2 years ago
Well said
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William · 2 years ago
I was one of those who panicked and emailed my MP just because you get pip doesn’t mean you don’t work me and others pay taxes most people with disabilities would rather work but unfortunately others can’t we should not have been used as a pawn in the conservative chess game
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lesley · 2 years ago
I recall a few years ago they were fiddling about with Attendance Allowance and tried to pass the responsiblity over to local councils to dole out as help for care rather than cash. There was such as outcry and the local councils certainly did not want the responsiblily so it never happened. They are always up to some monkey business. Yes we have to be vigilant.
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A EDWARDS · 2 years ago
I don't believe it,not on Thursday maybe,but there is a white paper pending on disability reform,a link was posted by a member of benefits and work a few days ago,it has been delayed at present,but it I bet its in that white paper,I won't believe it isn't until what's in that paper has been announced .we still need to be vigilant on this and name as much noise as possible if it is mentioned
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  A EDWARDS · 2 years ago
  
  @P Thurston I agree,I think this white paper has the answers,they are as slippery as eels,they say they havnt costed it,but I net they will at some point,if its not in the small print of the white paper reforms we're safe for now but they never said anything about fuel duty last Thursday but it was in the small print and picked up by the media who scrutinised the text documents,they are lying ,greedy people and they don't care a jot about us
  
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  lesley · 2 years ago
  
  @P Thurston
  Dear P Thurston,
  Read on one on line newspaper that right wing tories are even considering means testing the state pension.
  
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  P Thurston · 2 years ago
  
  @A EDWARDS The White Paper you’re talking about puts forward many ideas to make disability benefits ‘sustainable’. One of which certainly seems to propose means testing PIP by combining it into the UC system. We all know the devil is in the detail, and there isnt much to go on. What it does highlight is that there may be no means testing plans in the budget, but the minister is not being entirely truthful if he is saying there are no plans at all.
  
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ward · 2 years ago
It never was going to be means tested, this was hysterical reaction to a labour ministers question, because he didn't get the answer he wanted.
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  Mr B · 2 years ago
  
  @ward I couldn't agree with you more ward, it was highly unlikely that means-testing of DLA and PIP was to be announced on Thursday! Not content in now knowing this though some people are now shifting their concern to some future time when they think this might actually happen! I think we're on a hiding to nothing pointing this out though ward because if the saying "The only certainties in life are death and taxes" is true then everything else is uncertain, isn't it? How we all and yes, I've done so too, rob ourselves of any peace of mind in the moment by worrying about what MAY happen in the future! When worrying about PIP, DLA or anything else I am reminded of the saying of Mark Twain
  
  "I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened."
  
  May we all find peace in THIS moment NOW!
  
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AliB · 2 years ago
Thank god for that! Thanks for the good news!
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Lizzie · 2 years ago
I will believe it when I actually hear it said on Thursday, and even thenI suspect ways will be found to cut more people out from qualifying, and being left high and dry with very little money and no help from our generous welfare system. In this case the DWP who are supposed to be there to help us in times of need. I just know that no help to get back to work if that is where I ever got to would ever be available, it would thanks but no thanks.
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Jelly4toes · 2 years ago
What the minister didn’t add was what Sewerella Braverman said” too many are relying on benefits”
I suspect we will see it even more difficult and distressing for applicants for PIP and ESA to be awarded that to which they are lawfully entitled in the first place.
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pusscatsmum · 2 years ago
some receive nothing extra as they are on contribution based esa with pip added. Mobility component removed if one moves abroad to the eu for health reasons. Having cb esa, pip and industrial injury benefit, forfeit one from claiming any extra help. If PIP was to be means tested some would, as age is pertinent , just be living of state pension. PIP means testing would remove those obtaining IIB as IIB is only paid if one receives PIP. Its time that the benefits were all overauled along with state pension and do a tapering effect on extra income supplement and lift the amount one can receive in order to be able to access further assistance.
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  P Thurston · 2 years ago
  
  @Andrew Bevan It’s swings and roundabouts though isn’t it ? Throughout the run up to the budget much has been written and said about increasing benefits in line with the cost of living. What hasn’t been made clear is that legislation exists which compels the government to raise disability benefits in line with inflation, so unless they want to very publicly change tht legislation they. Have no choice. So although non means tested disability benefits don’t attract the same level of cost of living payments, at least they are inflation proofed - for now, anyway. I’ll watch with interest when Hunt and Sunak take credit for something they can’t easily change. Wouldn’t be a good look in a cost of living crisis, for a government boasting about a fair and compassionate budget, to be seen trying to dismantle legislation designed to protect the vulnerable.
  
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  Andrew Bevan · 2 years ago
  
  @pusscatsmum I doubt there will be much protest from MP's or noise from the media about the non means tested benefits not qualifying for the extra money. The terms used in recent days have been intention to help the 'most vulnerable' The word 'most' being very revealing. There is still a case going through the courts about non UC claimants not getting the covid period extra payments. I wonder whether this next episode of similar discrimination illustrates the Governments total confidence they can discriminate between the means and non means tested again and be certain of not being found to have acted unlawfully.
  
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Aw · 2 years ago
No, they'll just continue to make more people ineligible to claim and give those that are less and less of what they're entitled to. Never trust a Tory no matter what they say.
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  Lesley · 2 years ago
  
  @Aw
  Dear Aw,
  you said it! So true.
  
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  CR · 2 years ago
  
  @Aw Withdrawal or services already happening. Had to suffer the misery of not attending long awaited patients open day at a hospital I can't afford taxi fares to & from. Get high rate pip etc but seems I'm no longer eligible for patient transport services or hospital funding. Appreciate its not a medical appointment but still important for treatment of a rare condition. Not to mention being good for mental health. Used to attend my clinic appointments via patients ambulance service... Sometimes they send a car driver or black cab... So seems odd they would say becos I can sit in a car I'm not eligible to use the service.
  
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