The DWP has launched an entirely bogus consultation on changes to personal independence payment (PIP) and universal credit (UC) by refusing to consult on almost everything that matters most to claimants.

The Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper sets out proposed changes to PIP, including preventing anyone who does not score at least one 4 point or more descriptor from being eligible for the daily living component.

It also proposes to freeze the LCWRA (health) element of UC and abolish the WCA.

Non-consultation

Yet the list of things that the DWP is refusing to consult on, meaning there are no questions about them in the online consultation, includes:

  • Scrapping the WCA
  • Creating a single assessment for PIP and the UC health element
  • Freezing the health element of UC until 2029/30
  • Only awarding PIP daily living if you get at least one descriptor scoring 4 or more points
  • Restarting WCA reassessments until the WCA is scrapped

(You can find a full list of the issues the DWP will and won’t be consulting on at Annex A of the Green Paper).

Leading questions

Instead of asking for feedback on these vital issues, the consultation asks questions that make the assumption that participants accept that people should lose their PIP:

2. What support do you think we could provide for those who will lose their Personal Independence Payment entitlement as a result of a new additional requirement to score at least 4 points on one daily living activity?

3. How could we improve the experience of the health and care system for people who are claiming Personal Independence Payment who would lose entitlement?

Missing information

Vital information that would allow people to have an informed opinion even on questions like those above has been deliberately withheld from the Green Paper.

For example, the DWP knows precisely, or could make a very accurate estimate of, how many current claimants would lose their award on review if their condition remains unchanged and the new system is introduced.

It also knows what condition those claimants have: how many have physical conditions like arthritis, mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, neurodevelopmental issues like ASD or ADHD.

The DWP knows, but it’s not telling us.

Yet how can you properly answer questions like the ones above if you don’t know who is most likely to be affected?   

Benefits and Work has made a Freedom of Information request for these figures, but we suspect they will not be forthcoming.

The information may be included in the impact assessment due to be published on 26th March.

Otherwise, perhaps readers could ask their MPs or a friendly member of the House of Lords to ask for them?

Judicial review

In January of this year, the High Court found that a Conservative consultation on changes to the work capability assessment (WCA) was unlawful, meaning that the changes could not go ahead.

The judge held that the DWP had: failed to adequately explain the proposals; had failed to explain that the main purpose was to save money rather than to get claimants into work; had failed to provide sufficient time for the consultation.

At the time, many of us thought that this meant that the DWP under Labour would have to carry out an honest consultation on changes to PIP and UC.

Instead, the lesson that the DWP has learnt is not that it should be honest, but instead that it should just not consult on anything meaningful at all.

According to the House of Commons Library:

“In some cases, public bodies have a legal duty to carry out a consultation. There will be legal duty to consult where:

  • there is legislation which requires a consultation
  • a government department or public body has promised to consult
  • there is an established practice of consultation in similar cases
  • not consulting would lead to obvious unfairness (in exceptional cases)”

We would argue that there is a very definite ”established practice of consultation” in relation to major changes to disability and incapacity benefits and that the current exercise is an attempt to pass off a fake consultation as the real thing.

It was the Public Law Project which won the case against the DWP over the WCA consultation.  We very much hope that they will be able launch a similar judicial review over this Green Paper consultation.

Alternative consultation

In the meantime, we hope that a major charity or umbrella body with good standing amongst the public and MPs, such as the Disability Benefits Consortium, will launch an alternative consultation.

It doesn’t need to be long or complicated.  It just needs to ask the questions that the DWP is scared to ask, such as:

Do you agree that only people who score at least 4 points on one daily living activity should get an award of the PIP daily living component?

Do you agree that the WCA should be abolished and replaced with a single assessment for both PIP and the UC health element?

Whatever the results, they could be circulated to MPs and members of the House of Lords who wish to be properly informed before they vote on these issues.

However, time is very short.  The official consultation does not end until 30 June.  But because the DWP have chosen not to consult on major changes, such as the new PIP scoring system, they can introduce new legislation as soon as they wish.  They have stated that they intend to bring forward legislation in this session of parliament, which ends on 21 July, so it could be as early as May that we see the new provisions. 

This means that, even though the change to PIP scoring will not be put into effect until November 2026, the law enabling it could be firmly in place very much sooner.

Silencing voices

The Green paper consultation is so dishonest that we feel unable to recommend that people take part in the way we normally would, though we also know that the DWP may argue that lack of response means that most people do not object to the changes.

In the Green paper, the DWP claim that “We are committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything we do.”

In fact, this bogus consultation is entirely about silencing the voices of disabled people and people with health conditions.

The reality is that the DWP under Labour is proving to be even more dishonest and devious than it was under the Tories.

The Green Paper consultation is online here or you can read all the questions in the consultation here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    Thank you B&W, for this summary. It took me almost 2 hours to read the green paper, and by the end, my head was spinning.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 hours ago
      @naheegan Both the speech and green paper leave many many questions unanswered?

      Is no explanation as to time lines for any changes for folk currently on existing pip scheme of all groups including old people post pension age on LTA

      2

      New Point system requires one descriptor to score 4 or no qualify otherwise this applies to all on living allowance 
      Many folk on current claims no doubt have scored 2/3 across many descriptors totalling anywhere between 8 and over 30 points even made up from 2/3 points in each 
      Giving awards of minimum 8 for lower over 12 for higher awards some may be lucky and scored 4 in one or more 
      (Worth noting 4 is a high bar)
      So in essence are they really saying anyone originally judged in the long horrific degrading assessment process they would have undertook in order to be awarded as lower or severe at the time of award no longer meet the requirements as viewed currently as severe or otherwise all of a sudden just because they scored very high but never achieved a 4 and are therefore no longer entitled as a result 
      This policy if it gets through will affect most pip claimants new and existing on low or high living allowance resulting in 75 to 100 pound s reductions per payments per week to the bulk of claimants on pip with very very few I suspect spared of the cuts 
      Gov said this shortfall will be met by support 
      What support one may ask ?
      They are asking disabled claimants on line to participate in questions paper they set up 
      In order to get ideas 
      In no way in the speech or green paper did it mention this would be any kind of financial recompense for cuts taken as any replacement but indeed more like no real plan from the outset to plug any cuts taken 

      3
      Gov said moral duty not so much money saving exercise etc etc 
      Question..
      Tell me what’s moral about recognising someone is severe and entitled and judged to be so  under current law only now by stroke of a miracle change this by moving the goal posts to then tell them they are now no longer entitled at all ?
      how on earth could one make such a blind conclusion and what’s moral about that in doing so ?

      We’re all their assessments that were undertaken prior then to this new such of thinking all wrong or bogus in the first place then as many folk sat in a face to face grilling I’ve no doubt also that many found all this degrading in order to appraised in the first place to this vital support they now want to strip away calling in the moral thing to do.
      I find nothing in the name of any moral argument given what I have said here in order from them to pretend this is the right thing to do I have no idea on what Labour MPs think as you here little opposition from most however a few have voiced up

      It’s a  disgraceful carry on in my opinion and all Labour MPs should have the moral duty to stand up call this out to oppose and condemn this in order to stop this in its tracks at the earliest opportunity 



  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    Does anyone know if today's welfare benefits reforms affect contribution based ESA support group recipients as they are increasing universal credit I think so might ESA increase too? 
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      · 5 hours ago
      @ANGELA But some of us can't get uc atall because of savings or pension lump sums we've already taken but wouldn't last 12 months with no Income, not to mention its his life pension,earned and paid for by us already,why should you save all your life for a pension and then take it and lose entitlement for all sick benefits and end up having to use it all just to survive, doesn't make sense now to even bother having a work pension if you can't take it!!!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 6 hours ago
      @Tabby Yes, that's the way i read it too. To quote from Section 54
      "this change would end the indefinite entitlement to contributory ESA for those assessed as having limited capability for work-related activity (for new people claiming)."

      The (for new people claiming) bit to me suggests the 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 hours ago
      @Rumtruffle Section 54 says for new people claiming so hopefully this gives protection to those in support group of esa(c) that don’t qualify for incomes based UC. Needs clarification 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 hours ago
      @JJ Section 54 says for new people claiming so hopefully this gives protection to those in support group of esa(c) that don’t qualify for incomes based UC. Needs clarification 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 hours ago
      @MB8 I'm on same benefit have been since 2014. I've recently had the annual increase come thru. This is actually taken out of the UC award as it is nothing to do with UC being contribution based.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    The sheer fact people like us are already on a forum like this shows the volume of genuine people that are worried sick. I believe they know that most people manage a 3 descriptor and others spread across each living element. The PIP criteria is far more complex than the old WCA and that’s why I believe they’ve now gone for this much harder qualifying system to punish US for people making new claims. Also many people could lose their disability badge under this new system. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 hours ago
      @ClassyKat @ClassyKat As far as I’ve understood it, the PIP mobility component won’t be affected by the new rules so it shouldn’t cause anyone to lose their blue badge. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 15 hours ago
      @ClassyKat There has been no mention of Mobility. 
      Many people now on Standard or Enhanced DL will get nothing. 
      will also exempt them from any UC health payments. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    The only option I can see here is to e-mail our MPs. Explain why the proposed cuts are so disastrous and mention the fact that the consultation is entirely bogus because it leaves out the most important elements and there will therefore be no consultation on those elements at all. 

    It's also worth mentioning - if your MP is Labour and seems minded to support the cuts - that you will not vote for them at the next election if they fail to oppose this. If there is one thing they care about it's keeping their seats. They therefore need to be made more afraid of voters' reaction than they are of the government whips.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 7 hours ago
      @tintack I emailed my current (Labour) MP, Tom Hayes, and got a generic form email which reads like it was churned out by the government to justify this! 

      The Tory MP which Hayes replaced was actually much more sympathetic about these issues, in my experience.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 15 hours ago
      @tintack Good luck on that. I emailed my MP for North East Hampshire on February 9th and haven't received so much as an acknowledgement they have read it. No posted office location and no phone number to call either. I now regret not keeping my old MP
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    I'm supposed to have a light touch review after 10 years in 2030. If they apply the 4 point rule, and my condition remains stable, I will lose the daily living  part and also more than half my housing benefit and all council tax support. This means a loss of almost £600 a month. The same level of disability that I've had for 15 years but suddenly not the same support. How can this be right? In the past when people have been forced to claim a new benefit at lower rates they were given transitional protection. No mention of that so far
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 7 hours ago
      @James There wont necessarily be a judicial review. Who knows if Starmer will let there even be one, and if disability charities will still be able to fund legal cases?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 hours ago
      @Denise It will have to be fought for through a judicial review like most things with the governments we seem to be having in this country
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 hours ago
      @Denise They haven’t really thought it through, have they. My light touch review (I only get PIP) is also 2030. I expect it to be a straightforward review without any sinister intentions to disqualify me for some 3 point 4 point nonsense. But clearly we will have to be wary!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 20 hours ago
      @Denise There is a smidgeon of hope in that regard, with the green paper mentioning the possibility of transitional protection for those losing daily living and some form of support for those who score 8 points but not 4 on any particular question.   The green paper says:

      141. We are mindful of the impact this change could have on people and so want to consider how we can best support those affected. This includes options for transitional protection for those who are no longer eligible for PIP and the entitlements linked to their award. In addition, we also want to consider how to support those with lower needs in a large number of PIP activities, as part of these changes. We are consulting on whether those who lose entitlement need any support and what this support could look like.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    So if your entitlement to the new health element is going to be related to PIP entitlement, surely all that’s going to do is drive up claims for it? Whether or not those claims will be successful or not will be irrelevant to new claims taking up accessors times? Reassessments for PIP are already taking months, some even waiting over a year? PIP awards being extended because they can’t get to accessing you before your claim ends? This hasn’t been thought of, clearly?  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    The sad thing, alas, is that I feel the general public will care little about what happens to the disabled. There is still a huge outcry on Twitter/X about the winter fuel payments being stopped - and yet, despite today's announcement, it's rarely been in the trending topics.   I've made posts on there and bsky about today's events - no responses.  The truth is that people care about pensioners, because most people have got a relative or two in that age bracket. The same isn't true for people with disabilities - many don't know a single person with a disability, and they don't know how we live or how the disability affects us. And, sadly, if something doesn't affect them directly, people don't give a damn (or add your own expletive)

    Moving on, despite the post that post from Benefits and Work "unable" to recommend taking part in the consultation, it is ESSENTIAL that you do.  Issues like transitional protection and options for those who get 8 or more points for PIP but not with 4 in one question are an integral part of that consultation.  And it's important everyone chips in as much as possible, and a FOI request after the consultation could lay bare the lies the government is telling, and possibly influence important decisions.   It is difficult to do certain things if the response is overwhelmingly negative in the consultation.   I could have lived with the cuts IF it wasn't for those losing Daily Living PIP also losing their UC LCWRA rate as well. The fact that this was not mentioned in the speech is not a good look, and it's hidden away in the green paper.

    Even with the green paper, there is still a lot that we don't know.  

    1.) We don't really know how many will have a WCA in the next couple of years, or who those people will be, or why they will be chosen.  We're told it will be the people most likely to have their status changing, but that's very vague

    2.) We don't know how it will decided who will and who will not get another PIP assessment based on permanent and degenerative conditions.  That includes osteoarthritis, theoretically, but not inflammatory arthritis - despite the fact that the latter can affect heart, lungs, and kidneys, and the meds are linked to some cancers. 

    3.) We don't know for sure if reassessments started BEFORE November 2026 will be under the old rules of PIP or the new.  I'm assuming the old, but there's no definitive statement on it.  But if thats the case there's going to be a cavalcade of people ringing up in October claiming their condition has got worse!

    4.)  When the WCA form is scrapped, how will that work with current claimants that already don't get daily living PIP?  It's hard to believe that the £400 will be stopped completely after a certain date.  So, if that doesn't happen, will it be the next time their PIP is reassessed, meaning thousands without daily living PIP will still get higher UC for several years?  Will it be tapered?  No info on this anywhere as far as I can see. 

    5.) The options for transitional payment for those losing PIP is left open and part of the consultation, as is "support" (financial?) for those who get more pip points but over a wide range of questions.  

    Sorry for the long post.









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      · 14 hours ago
      @SLB @SLB In all honesty I don’t imagine even they know the answers to the questions that you and many others have raised. There was absolutely nothing of any use in their manifesto relating to welfare and now they seem to have just thrown this green paper together, plucking imaginary figures of supposed savings out of the air, with no planning, no consultation and no idea of the long term impact to those affected or future budgets. 
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    · 23 hours ago
    Any future changes to PIP entitlement will also affect Carers Allowance. No PIP, no Carers Allowance. 
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      · 4 hours ago
      @Shopdoll Thing is,I'm gunna lose my pip with this,but my oh will lise the carers allowance he claims for me,my needs won't change because I've list pip,I still need him to be present so I can eat/ drink safely, if I'm on my own I can't take nutrition atall therefore he can't pick up sny more hours at work,his work fits around me and my eating routines,I also have severe agoraphobia and I can't be left on my own even at home,I'm set to lose pip,cont based esa and carers allowance, this is terrible because my conditions are never gunna change I've  had em 30 years !!!!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    The powers that be just don't want disabled people claiming benefits. They are twisting and turning the system to make it harder and harder to claim. It's a clear onslaught to create more stress and greater harm. Evil beyond belief.


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    Thank you so much B&W for getting this info out so quickly!

    So basically if you scored 2 points in each category, possibly getting a total score of 20 points you DO NOT qualify for PIP.  If you score a minium of 4 points in a single category plus 2 points in two of the remainder categories getting a total score of 8 points you WILL qualify for PIP.

    Make it make sense!!!!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 hours ago
      @fibrofred It doesn't make any sense,poorly thought out by people not affected in any way,absolutely cruel beyond a joke,couldn't have made this up in my worse nightmare 
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      · 4 hours ago
      @LPL AI brainstorm, it’s got inhuman algorithm written all over it 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 hours ago
      @fibrofred
      This is it in a nutshell.

      They have looked at previous claims and decided there is not many claimants with 4 points in one particular category. You would think they would come up with something a little less transparent. As you have stated, someone can earn 20 points and not be eligable but someone with 8 points can sail through the whole process.

      Utter madness, you should be ashamed of yourselves Labour. You'll never get my vote again.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    Will all the changes announced today have to go through legislation,if so how long could that take,
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 hours ago
      @Brendan My question exactly. The uncertainty is alarming, to say the least.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 hours ago
      @Brendan I belive there trying to fast track it.  They want the legislation to be pushed through in this parliment which according to this article ends 21st July.  So depends on if it gets voted through. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    Does anyone have an idea about all the pip reviews taking place at present (although they are taking a long time)will they get assessed on the current system or will it be the one announced today with the change of points needed min 4 points 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Will the people who have 10yr light touch policy be left alone until the term ends or will they have to be reassessed 
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    · 1 days ago
    As I understand it you need 4 points in one of the daily living allowance categories a near impossible feat. Therefore if you scored 2 points in each of the categories and say 8/10 points in total you would not qualify for PIP. You could score less points overall eg 4 and and get PIP. In other words you could have a greater overall need than someone scoring in only one category and not get PIP. This has been thought up by an idiot.   
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 hours ago
      @Mark Lovell You understood it wrongly.. You STILL need whatever the required number of points are, BUT you MUST score 4 or more in one group. Just scoring 4 in one group and nothing in the others and you would not be eligible for pip.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 hours ago
      @Mark Lovell I think you still have to get a minimum of 8 for standard and 12 for enhanced still. You just also have to get 4 of those points in 1 category. 

      Still means someone with more points but no 4 could get declined while someone with less points but at least one category as 4 would get approved. But I dont think you can get it with just 4. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Just filled in the DWP consultation, I suspect that they will ignore every word, but at least I was able to express my feelings and intellectual thought processes.
    Access to work is doomed to fail, how many employers are looking to take on unreliable sick individuals? Can you promise an employer that you will be in work and effective every day?
    Current vacancies around 800,000 many of these employment opportunities require skills and qualifications predetermined.
     WHERE ARE THE JOBS suitable for the hundreds of thousands who will see their benefit payments stop and are deemed well enough to fulfil the ambitions of an employer?
    This exercise in penny pinching is a response to the rise of hateful ideology and will not convince the haters to not vote in that direction. Just look at Transaction Man!
    TAX THE RICH properly and there is no FISCAL HOLE. Many wealthy people want to see their taxes raised, because they have more money than they can use. Those who don't will leave the country, good riddance. Maybe they will apply for a green card.
    PROTEST PROTEST PROTEST, . Write to your MP. Just imagine the panic if millions of letters went in?
    Tell them on an individual basis how these changes will affect you. If most do this they will have to backtrack, just like Transaction Man.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 hours ago
      @Jobbo We won't be classed as sick though will we even though we are,n9t to mention the sanctions when most of us can't do what's being added of us
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Instead of having to gain 4 point in one category why not revert back to the dla system on of low,middle or,higher rate.  That way then people would at least get some support where it is needed instead of punishing pretty much the majority of people claiming PIP for conditions such as depression, anxiety, autism, ADHD etc.   If anything this whole government is corrupt and doesn't want to help anyone especially the disabled or elderly 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    John McDonnell in parliament said this is a decision that will be one that effects the lives of people. People could be unlived due to these changes, or not have enough food to eat, or ability to pay for anything.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    How do they even call this a consultation …. It’s merely a tick box exercise to just say “oh ya we consulted and now we carry out our evil plans to eradicate the most disabled and vulnerable people in the community.” My blood boils when I hear this Trio speak - Kendall, Starmer and Reeves 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    So, people on PIP  - some of who WORK - will be deprived of PIP to get incentive to work?     And the NOT work related benefit – PIP benefit will be, a passporting benefit for UC LCWRA ?
    My head is spinning?   Those ministers, really have no clue, do they?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    A real issue for those who will lose pip daily care component due to not having 4 points is they will also lose their (usually family) carer who relies on carers allowance to look after them - as they will need to look for work themselves. They will not be able to pay someone privately either. Their additional loss of lcwra if on universal credit will only exacerbate the problem. Their care needs will not dissipate and given the dire state of the care and health systems in this country (who will allegedly take the brunt) are they simply to be expected to languish at home with no real help? What kind of a life is that? Please explain how any of this will save money in the long term?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 hours ago
      @Ellie Exactly this!! I will be affected in this way my needs havnt just changed but we're gunna lose everything 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 hours ago
      @Ellie Also if someone loses their daily living of pip the person who looks after them will lose their carers allowance. Nobody has mentioned that. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 22 hours ago
      @Ellie I agree Ellie, it will cost more money . 

      Presently I use all my PIP Care component and part of my ESA to pay for my carers.
      If its taken away  I will still need carers thus the cost of GP Social Services(S.S.) referall and S.S. benefit assessment on my new care package will still have to be paid by the taxpayer.

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