DWP payment dates for universal credit, PIP, and other benefits
Over 10,300 individuals have signed an online petition calling for the UK Government to abandon planned welfare reforms affecting those receiving health and disability benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
As a result, the petition is now eligible for a written response, likely from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Abigail Broomfield, the petition’s creator and a disability activist, argues that instead of reducing benefits, the DWP should provide “support, not hardship and deprivation, for those who cannot work.”
The proposed changes, announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall last month, aim to curb rising welfare costs by introducing reforms to disability and health-related benefits starting in November 2026. The planned changes, outlined in the Green Paper, are expected to save £5 billion by 2029/30.
The proposals focus on modifying eligibility criteria and reducing payment rates for benefits. Key changes include abolishing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), with the new PIP assessment determining eligibility for both PIP and the health component of Universal Credit.
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According to the DWP, these reforms will ensure that individuals with illnesses or disabilities have equal opportunities to work, ultimately unlocking employment, improving living standards, and contributing to the UK Government’s Plan for Change to boost economic growth. The campaign to revamp the ‘broken benefits system’ aims to ensure it provides adequate support for those in need, while also facilitating job entry for those able to work and maintaining fairness for taxpayers, reports the Daily Record.
A petition titled ‘protect disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits’ has been launched on the Petitions-Parliament website, demanding a halt to all proposed benefit reductions for disabled individuals unable to work. The petitioners are calling for benefits to increase with inflation, advocating for support rather than hardship for those unable to earn a living.
The petition reads: “We feel that disabled people who cannot work should not have their benefits cut. Acquired Disabilities can end careers, and we feel that those who previously contributed to tax deserve support. We also believe that people born disabled need steady support without cuts.”
It further states: “We feel the pandemic widened the gap between current financial support and the extra cost of living for disabled people; these proposed cuts will worsen this. We think forcing people to work will strain the fragile NHS and that Disabled people should not be punished for being unable to work.”
Should the petition reach 100,000 signatures, it would trigger consideration for debate in Parliament.
Earlier this month, Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms emphasised that any welfare reforms must be informed by and cater to the needs of disabled people, coinciding with the commencement of the official consultation on the UK Government’s reform proposals.
Sir Stephen is actively calling on individuals and disability charities to contribute their experiences and insights to the consultation on the adjustments to PIP and Universal Credit to ensure their perspectives drive the changes.
The proposals focus on modifying eligibility criteria (Image: Getty)
This initiative follows the UK Government’s announcement of the creation of ‘collaboration committees’ aimed at enhancing the reform process. These committees will unify various stakeholders for targeted work areas, where they can engage in discussions, offer critiques, and advise on the reforms.
Sir Stephen commented: “We inherited a broken welfare system, which incentivises ill-health, locks people out of work and isn’t fit for a future in which so many of us will face long-term health conditions.
“We want a system that genuinely works for disabled people and those with health conditions, as well as the country and the economy, and we want to hear their views and voices at the heart of the new system.
“I encourage people to engage so they can have their say as we listen, learn and deliver support which will help millions into work, put welfare spending on a more sustainable path, and unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.”
The public has until June 30, 2025, to participate in the crucial 12-week consultation regarding health and disability benefits reforms following its April 7 launch on GOV.UK, complete with accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper available.
The intended reforms are designed to facilitate job access, safeguard those unable to work, and put the welfare system on stable ground to aid those in need today and onwards into the future.
More than 10,000 people have signed an online petition urging the UK Government to halt welfare reforms. (Image: Getty)
DWP commented: “One in three of us faces a long-term health condition, so we all need a system that can support us to stay in work or get back into work.”
The measures are the latest step in the UK Government’s drive to build a modern welfare system that helps people get jobs rather than creating unnecessary barriers, with ministers’ proposed plans set to:
- Provide more tailored employment support for those who can work, breaking down barriers to opportunity
- Simplify the system and reduce unnecessary assessments, cutting bureaucracy and making it easier to navigate
- Improve the way financial support is assessed and delivered, ensuring it reaches those who need it most and that people using the system have a better experience and are treated with dignity and respect
- Build a more flexible approach that recognises the diverse needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
The DWP also projected that without these developments, the welfare system could incur a staggering annual cost of up to £70 billion by the close of the decade, potentially jeopardising its availability for those in need later on.
Integral aspects of the consultation process include:
- Supporting people to thrive with the new support offer
- Supporting employers and making work more accessible
- Reforming the structure of the health and disability benefits system
The DWP further explained the breadth of the reform effort, stating: “These are part of the wider reforms that also include reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren’t indefinitely written off, targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs, and rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit.”
