The UK welfare system is set for one of its most significant overhauls in years, with proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility likely to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people. Under plans linked to the government’s wider disability benefits review, new rules are being developed that could exempt or protect up to 700,000 claimants from reassessments — a move aimed at making the system fairer and more predictable for those with long-term conditions. Although the full details are still being finalised and have not yet become law, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and ministers have outlined reforms intended to reduce bureaucracy, strengthen evidence-based decisions, and shift away from frequent reassessments that many claimants find stressful and unnecessary.
These proposed changes come amid a broader rethink of sickness and disability benefits under the government’s welfare reform agenda. While PIP has long been a cornerstone of financial support for disabled people regardless of their work status, ministers acknowledge that the current system is complex and costly, and that reform is needed to ensure help reaches those who genuinely need it while containing long-term public spending. This article explains what Starmer’s new PIP rules could mean, who might be exempt, how the reforms could work in practice, and the key dates and eligibility details you need to know as the shift approaches in 2026.
Why the Government Is Reforming PIP
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides financial support to disabled people to help cover the extra costs associated with disability, including daily living needs and mobility support. It does not depend on employment status and has historically used a points-based assessment system to determine eligibility.
However, the system has grown very quickly in terms of caseload and spending, placing pressure on the public finances. As of recent forecasts, disability benefit demand is expected to continue rising sharply without changes. Ministers argue that reform is necessary to ensure the benefit continues to support those with the greatest needs without creating unsustainable spending growth over the next decade.
At the same time, the existing assessment process — with its emphasis on repeated in-person or remote medical assessments — has been widely criticised by claimants and disability organisations for being stressful, difficult to navigate, and not always reflective of real-world needs.
What the Proposed New PIP Rules Involve
Under the government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper and subsequent proposals, one of the key changes involves tightening the rules around eligibility for the daily living component of PIP. Under current arrangements, claimants can qualify if they accumulate enough points across a range of activities, even if they do not score highly in any single activity.
The proposed reform would introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum number of points in at least one individual area of daily living to qualify for that component. This change is part of an effort to focus support on people with more severe levels of difficulty in specific activities, rather than those with marginal or low-level difficulties spread over many areas.
A similar change was expected to be introduced through earlier legislation, but the government withdrew that provision pending further review. Instead, officials are finalising new rules that are expected to be implemented more thoughtfully with input from claimants and disability groups.
Who Could Be Exempt or Protected Under the New System
A major reason people are talking about “700,000 pensioners or claimants being exempt” is that the emerging reform proposals include protections for many existing PIP claimants. Although official figures change as consultations and reviews progress, estimates suggest that a large number of people who are already in receipt of PIP with stable, long-term conditions may be exempt from full reassessment under the new rules, particularly those with progressive or lifelong disabilities where regular reassessments do not change entitlement.
These exemptions are part of efforts to reduce unnecessary stress and administrative hurdles for claimants who are unlikely to see any change in their functional needs. In practice, this could mean:
- People with lifelong or progressive conditions such as severe neurological disorders, degenerative diseases and terminal illnesses may move onto a long-term or no-reassessment status.
- Claimants whose medical evidence clearly shows high needs in one or more daily living activities may avoid future face-to-face or video assessments.
- Certain categories of existing claimants could be protected from future eligibility tightening if their conditions are not expected to improve.
Although official government documentation does not yet specify an exact number, reports suggest around 700,000 claimants could benefit from lighter-touch assessment or exemption from reassessment once reformed rules are in place. These figures come from analysis of policy proposals, campaign summaries, and informed commentary (such as disability rights channels and some advocacy groups), rather than from a single explicit government announcement.
How the New System Might Work in Practice
Under the proposed approach, the PIP assessment process would shift in several key ways:
- Greater emphasis on verified medical evidence — GP records, specialist reports, and ongoing treatment notes may play a bigger role in eligibility decisions, reducing the reliance on repeated formal reassessments.
- Reduced frequency of review — Instead of reassessing every claimant every year or two, those with clearly defined and stable conditions could have much longer intervals between reviews or even indefinite awards.
- Simplification of the assessment framework — Some proposals suggest using broader categories of disability need rather than highly granular scoring, which critics say can disadvantage people with hidden or fluctuating conditions.
For some claimants this could mean a more predictable and less stressful benefits experience, while those with fluctuating or low-level needs might be subject to more detailed assessments.
When the New Rules Could Come Into Effect
Although many reforms have been debated since early 2025, nothing has yet become primary legislation, and the government’s timetable continues to evolve. Earlier plans to introduce stricter qualifying tests as early as November 2026 have been modified or paused, with the focus shifted to phased implementation and extensive consultation with disability groups and MPs.
The official green paper and accompanying equality analysis show that any changes affecting eligibility and assessment criteria would be introduced via primary legislation in the current parliamentary session and will apply gradually from 2026 onwards. This means claimants, especially existing ones, may experience transitional arrangements rather than an abrupt shift.
At present, ministers are expected to confirm the final shape of reforms later in 2025 or early 2026, with implementation occurring through the course of 2026 and beyond.
How These PIP Changes Are Being Received
Reactions from campaigning organisations, MPs and disability charities have been mixed. Many advocates believe that the current PIP assessment system is flawed and needs reform, but they warn that tightening eligibility could push vulnerable people out of support if not handled carefully. Critics argue that:
- Tightening criteria risks leaving claimants with genuine needs without adequate financial support.
- Changes that reduce the total number eligible for the daily living component could lead to hardship for people with multiple low-level difficulties, even if they don’t score highly on any single activity.
- Any benefit system reform should be accompanied by better healthcare and employment support services.
Conversely, some MPs and policymakers argue that focusing support on more severe needs will help ensure sustainability while preserving support for those most dependent on it.
What Claimants Should Do Now
If you currently receive PIP or are thinking of applying, it’s important to stay informed and up to date:
- Monitor official DWP announcements — the government will publish guidance and timetables as reforms are formally adopted.
- Keep medical evidence organised — clear GP and specialist records will be crucial under any new evidence-based assessment model.
- Seek advice from charity support organisations like Disability Rights UK or Citizens Advice if you’re unclear about how changes affect you.
Even under the reformed framework, people with the most severe disabilities are likely to remain protected, especially if their needs are well documented.
Final Thoughts
The proposed overhaul of PIP under Starmer’s government represents one of the most significant disability benefits reforms in years. While the headline idea of 700,000 people being exempt from future reassessments is based on analysis of emerging proposals rather than a single government claim, it does reflect a broader shift towards a more evidence-led, less burdensome system for many disabled claimants in the UK.
As the reforms move through consultation and legislation over 2025 and into 2026, claimants should prepare by understanding how eligibility works today and how it may change in future. Staying informed and engaged with official updates will be crucial to navigating these changes successfully.