PIP assessment changes set to start as Liz Kendall confirms work

The government has initiated a review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment, as part of Labour's welfare reform agenda. Liz Kendall has confirmed that efforts to revamp disability benefit assessments are under way this week.

Addressing Parliament earlier this week, she said: "It is over a decade since PIP was introduced and there have been significant shifts in the nature of disability and long-term conditions in this country, as well as changes in wider society and the workplace. That is why our Green Paper announced our plans to review the PIP assessment, working with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and others.

"We are starting that work today, inviting key organisations representing disabled people in to discuss the terms of reference, which we will publish, and we will continue to keep the House updated as our work progresses."

This announcement comes against the backdrop of over 40 Labour MPs who have expressed their inability to support the Pathways to Work green paper in its present state. The green paper outlines numerous proposed alterations to the welfare system for the coming years.

While the government maintains that these reforms are essential to manage the escalating costs of welfare, the MPs who are resisting the changes have voiced their apprehensions about the potential repercussions for their constituents.

Kendall acknowledged "how anxious many people are" regarding the forthcoming alterations. She continued to stress: "This Government want to ensure that PIP is there for people who need it now and into the future.

"In our Green Paper we promised to review the PIP assessment, working with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts, and we are starting the first phase of that review today."

The reports that this review aims to eliminate the work capability assessment and integrate it with the PIP application process to create a singular assessment procedure.

Labour declared in their Pathways to Work green paper that they will do away with the work capability assessment by 2028, which affects eligibility for the Universal Credit health element, while changes to eligibility criteria for PIP are slated to commence in November 2026.

Reacting to the announcement, expressed concerns: "From November 2026, Labour plans to implement new rules... now, claimants have the added fear that the PIP assessment may change radically in 2028 and there may be other ways in which their award can be taken away from them."