Government confirms 13-week PIP transition period

People who no longer qualify for personal independence payments (PIP) following planned welfare reforms will still receive payments for 13 weeks.

Under the new system, from November 2026, people will have to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living part of PIP.  

Ministers have now confirmed that existing claimants affected by the changes will get a 13-week transition period, rather than four weeks, where their payments continue.

This will also apply to those who lose eligibility to carer’s allowance and the carer’s element of universal credit.

“The 13-week additional protection will give people who will be affected by the changes time to adapt, access new, tailored employment support, and plan for their future once they are reassessed and their entitlement ends,” the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said.

The number of PIP awards has more than doubled from 13,000 a month before the pandemic to 34,000 a month.

According to the DWP, this works out to about 1,000 people signing on to PIP every day.

Universal credit standard rate to increase

The government has also confirmed that the main rate of universal credit will go up every year above inflation for the next four years.

This is estimated to be worth £725 for a single adult aged 25 or over by 2029/30.

Meanwhile, the health element for new universal credit claims will be reduced to £50 a week from April 2026.

People affected by changes to the universal credit health element changes will be offered support from a dedicated Pathways to Work adviser.

Those in the Severe Conditions Criteria group - people with a lifelong disability or condition - won’t be reassessed under the new rules. 

They’ll continue receiving the higher health top-up of £97 per week.

Extra investment in helping people into work

The government is to step up funding for personalised employment and health support for people on out of work benefits.

Annual spend on helping sick and disabled people into work will increase from £275m in 2024-24 to more than £1bn by 2029-30.

Meanwhile, people on benefits won’t be penalised for trying out a new job. 

This will allow people claiming sickness benefits to try out a new job without having their benefits cut or reassessed straight away.

Why is the government overhauling the benefits system?

Ministers believe welfare costs are “spiralling at an unsustainable rate” and that the system needs to support those who can work to find employment.

At the same time, it wants to ensure “robust protections” are in place to support the most vulnerable and severely disabled.

“Our social security system is at a crossroads,” said work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall.

“Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it.”