The Conservatives are set to launch a bid to overturn new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules that allow some Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants to receive longer awards before being reviewed.
Changes to PIP Award Periods
The changes, which came into force at the start of June, were introduced by the Labour Government as part of wider reforms aimed at reducing unnecessary reassessments for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. However, the Conservatives claim the move will reduce scrutiny of benefit claims and increase welfare spending.
Kemi Badenoch's party is expected to table a motion on Wednesday seeking to annul the parliamentary mechanism used to bring the changes into force.
Details of the New Rules
The updated rules mean some PIP claimants can receive awards for longer periods without undergoing a reassessment. The DWP said earlier this month the changes are designed to reduce the burden on people whose conditions are unlikely to improve and to help focus resources on new claims and those whose circumstances are more likely to change.
The reforms include extending some fixed-term awards and increasing the maximum ‘light touch’ review period for certain claimants with severe, lifelong or progressive conditions.
Conservative Criticism
Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, criticised the move and said the changes had been rushed through. She said: “Labour’s only plan for welfare is watering down benefits checks, reviewing fewer people, less often. It’s an outrageous kick in the teeth to working people footing the bill. These reviews check that benefit claims are accurate. Longer gaps between reviews means more of your money handed out with no scrutiny. Whether it’s Burnham or Starmer, the Welfare Party are only interested in handing out more in benefits.”
Labour's Response
Labour rejected the criticism and accused the Conservatives of hypocrisy over their record on disability benefit assessments while in government. A Labour Party spokesperson told the Press Association: “This is pure hypocrisy from the Tories. They allowed face-to-face assessments to collapse to just 2%, and their own shadow chancellor signed contracts which committed to 80% of assessments being carried out virtually. While the Tories try and rewrite history, this Labour Government is getting on with the job, cutting unnecessary reassessments for people with lifelong conditions, reducing bureaucracy, and saving almost £2 billion by the end of this Parliament.”
Political Implications
The changes were introduced through amendments to existing PIP regulations and took effect from June 2. At the time, the DWP said the reforms would help reduce stress for claimants who repeatedly undergo reassessments despite having conditions that are unlikely to improve.
The UK Government has argued that longer award periods will allow the benefits system to focus on people whose circumstances are changing while reducing unnecessary administration for both claimants and the DWP.
The Conservative motion is unlikely to overturn the changes given Labour's majority in the House of Commons, but it highlights growing political divisions over the future direction of welfare policy and the balance between reducing reassessments and maintaining oversight of benefit awards.
