PIP and universal credit, what's changing, when

Labour have already introduced changes to PIP and UC, with many more still in the pipeline.

We’ve set out the most important changes, reviews and proposals below and we'll keep this page updated as more information becomes available.

Last updated: 1 September 2026

Changes already in force

April 2026

Universal Credit health element changes

The Universal Credit Act introduced cuts to the UC health element for most new claims, increases to the UC standard allowance and the severe conditions criteria as a means of deciding who gets the higher rate of the UC health element.

From 6 April 2026 there are now two rates of the limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) element, which the government also refers to as the UC health element.

For most new claimants who do not meet the severe conditions criteria, the LCWRA element has been almost halved.

You can read our report on how the new UC severe conditions criteria cuts began on 6 April.

There is also official DWP guidance on the two LCWRA rates and who qualifies for them.

Benefits uprating 2026/27

Most benefits increased by 3.8% in April 2026, in line with the CPI rate of inflation.

The Universal Credit standard allowance increased by more than the CPI rate. For example, the standard allowance for a single claimant aged 25 or over rose to £424.90 a month and the under-25 rate rose to £338.58.

PIP rates also increased, with the enhanced daily living rate rising to £114.60 a week and the enhanced mobility rate to £80.00 a week.

The major exception to the general uprating was the LCWRA element for most new claimants, which fell to £217.26 a month as explained above.

You can see our full list of benefit rates for 2026/27.

Fewer PIP reviews and more WCA reassessments

The time between PIP reviews has been extended for most claimants aged 25 and over.

For most new claims made from 6 April 2026, the first award will be for four years, with the award review beginning after around three years.

Subsequent awards will generally be for six years, with the next review beginning after around five years.

The DWP still has the power to make shorter or longer awards where it considers this appropriate.

You can read our original report on fewer PIP reviews, more WCA reassessments and more face-to-face assessments.

Extensions to existing PIP awards

The DWP was also given new powers to extend existing fixed-term PIP awards rather than carrying out a review at the original time.

Benefits and Work readers began receiving extension letters in June and we have been investigating how the system is operating in practice.

Read our detailed report on PIP award extensions: what we know, what we suspect and what may happen next.

There is also official DWP confirmation that the extension process began on 16 June and has now been completed.

More face-to-face assessments for PIP and WCA

The proportion of face-to-face assessments is being increased to 30% for both PIP and the WCA, rising from lows of 6% for PIP in 2024 and 13% for the WCA.

You can still ask for a different type of assessment if your condition means that a face-to-face assessment is not appropriate.

The move may reduce the number of successful PIP claims. In 2024, the success rate for face-to-face PIP assessments was 44% compared to 57% for telephone assessments.

Read our report on the increase in face-to-face assessments.

The DWP has also confirmed the target of increasing both PIP and WCA face-to-face assessments to 30%.

30 April 2026

Right To Try Guarantee

The government has introduced what it calls a Right To Try Guarantee.

The new regulations say that undertaking paid work or voluntary work will not, in itself, count as a relevant change of circumstances which triggers a PIP award review or WCA reassessment.

But the DWP can still look at whether the nature of the work being done is evidence that your condition or functional ability has changed. If it decides that this may be the case, a reassessment or review can still take place.

You can read why we think that the Right To Try legislation offers very little new protection and our subsequent report confirming that starting work can still trigger a WCA or PIP review.

There is also an official DWP explanation of the Right To Try rules.

29 June 2026

PIP and WCA assessments recorded automatically

From 29 June 2026, telephone and face-to-face health assessments for PIP, UC and ESA are being automatically audio recorded.

We advise still doing a back up recording of your own.

Read our report on all PIP and WCA assessments being audio recorded as standard.

There is also official DWP guidance on audio recordings of health assessments.

1 July 2026

Motability changes

Tax changes to the Motability scheme came into force for new leases from 1 July 2026.

VAT at 20% now applies to advance payments – the additional amount paid where a claimant chooses a more expensive vehicle.

Insurance Premium Tax at 12% also applies to insurance on most new leases.

There are important exceptions. The tax changes do not apply in the same way to vehicles designed for, or substantially and permanently adapted for, wheelchair or stretcher users. Insurance on leases entered into before 1 July 2026 also remains exempt from the new Insurance Premium Tax charge.

You can read our report on the Motability changes now in force.

There is also official HMRC guidance on the Motability tax changes.

Reviews currently under way

Streeting mental health and neurodiversity review

Wes Streeting’s Department of Health and Social Care commissioned a review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism in December 2025.

The review's official title is the "Independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism".

The review published an interim report on 31 March 2026.

You can read our report on the Streeting review interim findings and their possible implications for benefits.

You can also read the official interim report and visit the official government collection for the review.

The review was originally expected to take only three to six months. However, as at 1 September 2026, no final report has been published.

Milburn review into young people and work

In November 2025 Alan Milburn was commissioned to write a report on young people and work, looking in particular at why so many young people are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), including those claiming health and disability benefits.

The review is being carried out in two phases.

The first, or "discovery", phase looked at why increasing numbers of young disabled people and young people with health conditions are not in work, education or training.

The interim report from this phase was published on 28 May 2026.

We looked in detail at the interim findings in Milburn report slams failure to link PIP to work.

You can read the official Milburn interim report here.

There is also an official Milburn review page containing the terms of reference and details of the expert panel.

The second, or "solution", phase is intended to propose reforms.

The final report is due in September 2026. The government has said that it will consider any proposal to restrict access to the UC health element for under-22s once Milburn has reported.

Timms PIP review

The Timms review, which the government claims will ensure that PIP is fair and fit for the future, began work in February 2026 after appointing 12 members to a steering group.

It is widely feared that Labour may use the findings of the Timms review as a justification for another attempt at imposing PIP cuts.

Its recommendations may affect both current and future claimants.

The Timms review published its interim report on 9 July 2026.

This described the existing PIP system as overly complex and difficult to navigate and says that assessment and decision making can be stressful, dehumanising and difficult to trust.

Our analysis of the interim report is here: Timms review interim report: still no clue with 25 working days left.

Fifteen "shaping recommendations" workshops are taking place during September and October 2026.

You can read our report on the Timms review shaping recommendations workshops and our subsequent report in which co-chair Dr Clenton Farquharson admitted the process seems rushed and is not fully or truly co-production.

The government's official Timms Review page is here and the official interim report is here.

The final report is due in autumn 2026.

Possible future changes

The proposals below have not yet come into force. In some cases the government has said that it still intends to introduce them, but the details or timing remain uncertain. In other cases, no decision has yet been made.

Delaying access to the UC health element until age 22

One of the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper was to delay access to the UC health element until age 22, meaning that younger people would not be eligible.

The DWP claim that this would make it less likely that young people would be trapped in a life on benefits.

The Green Paper originally suggested that this might happen from 2027/28.

In July 2026, however, the DWP said that any changes would only be decided upon after the Milburn review.

You can read the government's original Pathways to Work Green Paper proposals here.

Mandatory support conversations

The original Green Paper proposed that most people receiving the UC health element should be required to take part in periodic conversations about work and support or face sanctions. This is not currently the case for LCWRA claimants.

Instead, the DWP is currently rolling out voluntary Support Conversations. In June 2026 the scheme was extended to another 27 Jobcentres, bringing the total to 33 sites.

The DWP states that these conversations are voluntary.

You can read our report on voluntary Support Conversations for disabled claimants and the official DWP announcement.

Further proposals on support conversations are still to be announced.

Abolition of the WCA

The work capability assessment (WCA) is the test used to decide whether a claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity and is entitled to the additional LCWRA element of Universal Credit.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper proposed abolishing the WCA in 2028/29.

The government says that it still intends to do so, but not until after the Timms review into PIP has reported.

Read our report: McFadden says WCA will be abolished, but can't say when or how.

You can also read the latest official parliamentary answer on WCA abolition.

PIP/UC single assessment

If/when the WCA is abolished, additional financial support for health conditions in Universal Credit in England and Wales will be decided by eligibility for the PIP daily living component.

The design of a single assessment will depend in part on the recommendations of the Timms review.

There is also no date set for the introduction of a single assessment.

The DWP has confirmed in Parliament that the future system is still being worked out.

New Unemployment Insurance contributory benefit

The Green Paper gave sketchy details of a proposal to replace New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NS ESA) and New Style Jobseeker's Allowance (NS JSA) with a single new Unemployment Insurance benefit.

The proposal was for a non-means-tested but time-limited benefit for people who had paid sufficient National Insurance contributions.

The Green Paper originally suggested an implementation date of 2028/29.

No further details have been announced.

You can read the original Pathways to Work Green Paper and the government's subsequent response to the consultation.

What happens next?

The Streeting review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism should be published very soon.

The Milburn review is expected to publish its final recommendations in September 2026.

The Timms review is due to report in the late autumn.

All of these reports are likely to form the justification for any changes to PIP and UC which are then put forward. Ministers will be hoping that the existence of apparently independent and carefully compiled evidence will be sufficient to dissuade Labour backbenchers from rebelling again.

We will continue to update this page as soon as firm decisions, legislation or new proposals are announced.