Many LHM members have been worried about the Governments proposed changes to the support that disabled people receive from social security.

Back to Work

There is still more to learn as the Government make changes to their proposals but in a nutshell this is how changes might affect LHM members.

Disability Allowances

DLA -Disability Living allowance for children up to the age of 15 will not be altered. Although there is a thought that the upper age will change.

PIP – Personal Independence Payments for people aged 16 (this may change to 18) up to 65 will change, but not for everyone.

The good news –

• PIP will rise in line with inflation so the benefit paid will increase as the cost-of-living increases.
• The allowance will not be means tested. Income from work or other income will not affect the PIP payment.
• You can work and receive PIP.
• If you have a lifelong condition, that they think is serious enough, after PIP has been awarded they will reduce the need for reassessment. They want to ensure lifelong support for people with long term disabilities.

The difficult news-

• It will be more difficult to qualify for PIP. Criteria will change in November 2026.
• The assessment process will change.
• To gain care allowance claimants will need to score at least 4 in one of the daily living assessments. They will still need to score between 8 and 11 for standard rate and above 12 for higher rate care.
• There is no change to the criteria for mobility.
• Changes to the budget will affect the funding received in Scotland.
• If a person’s condition is not deemed as life affecting for life there will be more assessment.

Universal credit

The good news –

• Standard payments will rise by £775 by 2030
• People with a lifelong disability that means they can never work will have an additional premium.
• Universal Credit work capability assessments will be linked to PIP assessments to reduce the number of assessments someone with a recognised disability has to undertake.
• The right to try

Fears that health benefits will be stopped if you want to try out a place of work have been eased by the promise that allowances will not automatically be removed as soon as you become employed.

The difficult news –

• The added incapacity benefit (the top up for disabled people) will be delayed for young people until they are 22. The aim is to get young people earning or learning.
• Incapacity benefit will be frozen from April of next year meaning the benefit paid will not go up.
• The amount of benefit paid will be reduced for new claimants.

Employers

Employers will have to allow:

• More flexible working for people with a disability
• Make reasonable adjustments in the workplace to enable accessibility
• Provide proper personalised support in the workplace to enable a disabled member of the team to succeed.

Over the next few weeks there will be more details about the proposed changes. The LHM team will work to keep everyone up to date.

For more information visit  https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-benefits-and-support-to-get-britain-working-green-paper