OVER 150,000 on benefits will see their payments cut under Personal Independence Payments (PIP) changes, the DWP has confirmed.
The Government is shaking up the way PIP is assessed meaning hundreds of thousands will miss out from November 2026.
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It comes as ministers look to cut the increasing welfare bill by clawing back billions of pounds of benefits.
But the changes will also have a knock-on effect on carers who qualify for benefits because they look after someone on PIP.
From late next year, new and existing PIP claimants being reassessed will have to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to receive the Daily Living Component.
The higher rate of the Daily Living Component is currently worth £110.40 a week.
Claimants will also have to score at least eight points when being assessed.
The Government estimates this means by 2029/30 around 800,000 won’t receive the Daily Living Component of PIP.
But it has also confirmed 150,000 will be missing out on Carer’s Allowance or the Universal Credit Carer’s Element by 2029/30 too.
This is because to receive either of these carer’s benefits you have to be caring for someone who receives the Daily Living part of PIP.
It means new and existing PIP claimants finding they are no longer eligible will disqualify their carer’s from next November when the changes kick in.
What are Carer’s Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit?
Carer’s Allowance is paid to those caring for someone else (who is on benefits) for at least 35 hours a week and is worth £83.30 a week.
You don’t have to be related to the person you care for, or live with them, to qualify.
If you are on Carer’s Allowance you also receive National Insurance credits which contribute to your NI record.
What classes as someone needing “care” is based on them qualifying for a number of benefits. These are:
- Personal Independence Payment – Daily Living Component
- Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate
- Adult Disability Payment – daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
The person you are caring for must also need help with certain tasks including: washing and cooking, being taken to the doctors and household tasks like managing bills or going food shopping.
Carer’s Allowance is issued to those living in England, Wales or Scotland aged 16 or over.
It’s worth noting, receiving Carer’s Allowance can impact the benefits the person you are caring for gets.
For example, they will usually stop receiving a severe disability premium or an extra amount for severe disability premium if they are on Pension Credit.
You can apply for Carer’s Allowance and find out more about the exact eligibility criteria via www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/how-to-claim.
The carer’s element of Universal Credit is added to your Universal Credit standard allowance if you care for someone and they receive a number of qualifying benefits. These are:
- Adult Disability Payment – standard or enhanced award
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care award
- Constant Attendance Allowance – full day rate, intermediate rate or exceptional rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance – full day rate with a War Disablement Pension
- Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care rate
- Personal Independence Payment – either rate of the Daily Living Part
To get the carer’s element you’ll also need to be providing 35 hours a week of care to the person receiving the qualifying benefit.
You get an extra monthly amount worth £201.68.
If you are receiving an extra amount because you have a limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA), you won’t qualify for the extra carer’s element part.
Meanwhile, if the person you care for gets the severe disability premium, it will stop when you claim the carer’s element of Universal Credit.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
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