The UK Parliament’s Work and Pensions Committee has launched a fresh inquiry into the Labour Party’s welfare reform proposals, detailed in the recent Pathways to Work Green Paper. These reforms, introduced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall on March 18, include big changes to how disability and health-related benefits are given in the UK. The committee will now review how these changes could affect millions of people, especially those living with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
What Are the Proposed Changes?
The key changes in the reform include:
- Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)
- Making Personal Independence Payment (PIP) the main tool for checking eligibility for disability-related benefits
- Tighter rules to qualify for PIP and the health element of Universal Credit
- Reducing the amount of financial support in real terms for many claimants
- According to official data, between 800,000 and 1.2 million current PIP claimants could be affected. Out of these, around 370,000 are expected to lose their benefits completely.
New Eligibility Rules from November 2026
From November 2026, stricter rules will be in place:
- To get standard rate PIP, a person must score:
- At least four points in one daily living activity
- Plus four or more points from other parts of the PIP health questionnaire
- A total of eight points is needed
- To receive the enhanced rate, the person must score twelve points or more
- These rules will also determine if someone qualifies for the health element of Universal Credit, making the process much tougher.
Expected Impact on People
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says these changes will save £5 billion by 2029/30. But in real terms, these reforms could cut support for up to 1.5 million current benefit claimants. The government has said a £1 billion employment support package will be added by 2029/30 to help disabled people find or keep jobs.
However, many experts and MPs are concerned. They say these changes may lead to more poverty, reduced health support, and increased stress for people already struggling.
What Is the Committee Looking Into?
The Work and Pensions Committee, led by Debbie Abrahams, is not asking for public submissions but will carry out a detailed inquiry based on the following:
- What problems the Green Paper aims to solve
- The actual impact of past welfare changes on poverty and jobs
- The real-life experiences of disabled and sick people
- The link between health problems and unemployment
- How the changes might affect people’s health and wellbeing
Concerns Raised by the Committee
Debbie Abrahams said that while financial savings are important, cutting support before job opportunities are improved is risky. She reminded that 14.3 million people in the UK live in poverty—half of them are sick or disabled, and they are already struggling to get proper help from the current system.
The Pathways to Work Green Paper proposes big changes in how disability benefits work in the UK. The government says these reforms will help people find jobs and save public money. But many experts and MPs warn that these changes could remove support from the people who need it most. The Work and Pensions Committee’s inquiry will carefully examine the real impact of these plans on people’s lives, poverty levels, and access to employment.
FAQ’s
What is the Pathways to Work Green Paper?
It is a policy document from the UK government outlining proposed reforms to disability and health-related benefits, including major changes to PIP and Universal Credit.
What is replacing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)?
The WCA will be scrapped, and PIP assessments will be used instead to determine eligibility for PIP and the health element of Universal Credit.
When will the new PIP eligibility rules start?
The new rules are planned to start from November 2026, with stricter scoring criteria for both standard and enhanced PIP rates.
How many people could lose their benefits?
According to DWP estimates, around 370,000 current PIP claimants will lose their benefits under the new rules.
Why is the Work and Pensions Committee holding an inquiry?
The Committee is reviewing the impact of the proposed reforms on poverty, employment, and the well-being of disabled and sick people.
