MPs are expected to vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill tomorrow whilst the secretary of state for work and pensions is unable to explain what will happen to current PIP claimants if they are reassessed after November 2026.
Vicky Foxcroft asked Kendall today (see around 16.10 on parliament tv) , “If claimants request a reassessment because of worsening health conditions, will they be assessed under the current criteria or the new eligibility criteria?”
Kendall replied, “As is the case now, people can request reassessment whenever they want. For existing claimants they will remain under the new rules unless they request a reassessment until November 2026. From November 2026 onwards, there will be that 4 point minimum.”
Aside from being almost nonsense – how can existing claimants “remain under the new rules” – Kendall’s answer does seem to say that if you are an existing claimant and you request a change of circumstances review after November 2026 your protection from the 4-point rule disappears.
But the whole point of the protection from the 4-point rule is supposed to be that, if your award is reviewed after November 2026, you will still be under the current rules not the 4-point rule.
In which case, according to Kendall the system will be different depending on whether an existing claimant has a planned award review or a change of circumstances award review.
Whether Kendall got it wrong or this is actually the plan, the degree of confusion – and the lack of written information - just 24 hours before MPs are expected to vote on a bill which will affect millions, is extraordinary and makes a mockery of the entire process.
UPDATE: the DWP have now apparently confirmed that Liz Kendall "misspoke" and that change of circumstances reviews for current claimants will not involve the 4-point rule after November 2026. As we said, utter confusion and a mockery of the democratic process.
