The Department for Work and Pensions is considering significant changes to welfare assessments that could strip vital financial support from thousands of disabled Britons, according to documents obtained by The Independent.
Proposed reforms to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility criteria would make it substantially harder for claimants to qualify for the benefit, potentially leaving many without crucial financial support during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Secret Plans for Stricter Assessments
Internal DWP documents reveal officials are exploring ways to tighten the assessment process for PIP, which provides essential financial help to people with long-term health conditions and disabilities. The changes could see many current recipients losing their payments when reassessed under the new stricter criteria.
One Whitehall source described the proposals as "the most significant welfare cut since the introduction of Universal Credit," warning that vulnerable individuals would bear the brunt of the changes.
Impact on Universal Credit Recipients
The proposed PIP reforms would have a knock-on effect on Universal Credit claimants, as PIP awards often trigger additional elements within the flagship welfare system. This double impact could leave households facing substantial reductions in their monthly income.
Charities and disability rights organisations have expressed alarm at the proposals, warning that they could push already struggling families deeper into poverty.
Growing Backlog and Delays
The controversy comes as the DWP faces mounting criticism over its handling of existing benefit claims. A growing backlog of PIP assessments has left thousands waiting months for decisions, causing severe financial hardship for vulnerable applicants.
Recent figures show that assessment delays have increased by nearly 30% in the past year alone, with many claimants reporting deteriorating mental health due to the uncertainty.
Government Response and Criticism
While the DWP has acknowledged the need for welfare system improvements, campaigners argue that targeting disability benefits represents the wrong approach. They contend that the focus should be on streamlining assessments and reducing delays rather than making eligibility criteria more restrictive.
The proposals are expected to face significant opposition in Parliament and from disability rights groups, who have vowed to fight what they describe as "another attack on the most vulnerable in society."
