Universal Credit and PIP changes set for 2026 as dates confirmed

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the exact dates when changes to PIP and Universal Credit benefits will start being rolled out as part of the Government's social security reforms

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that planned reforms to Universal Credit will start in April 2026. Meanwhile, proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are due to start from November next year.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: "We (DWP) want to reassure anyone concerned that the changes to PIP eligibility and rebalancing of Universal Credit aren't coming into effect immediately." Sir Stephen made the remarks in a written reply to Labour MP Paul Foster's query regarding the impact of eligibility changes on the daily living component for PIP, reports the Daily Record.

The DWP minister said: "The assessment of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), published at the Spring Statement, is that most of the current claimants of PIP daily living who did not score four points in any of the activities at their last assessment will, nevertheless, because of behaviour changes, be awarded PIP daily living again after the proposed eligibility changes take effect.

"There will be no immediate changes. We want to reassure anyone concerned that the changes to PIP eligibility and rebalancing of Universal Credit aren't coming into effect immediately. Our intention is these changes will start to come into effect from April 2026 for UC and November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval."

Sir Stephen added: "We will also guarantee that for those on Universal Credit, individuals with the most severe, life-long conditions, which mean a person cannot and will never work, will not need to be reassessed in future."

He added that the PIP changes are expected to be implemented from November 2026 for new claims and reviews, pending parliamentary approval, stating: "The average award review is about three years. At your next review, you will be seen by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, and assessed on your individual needs and circumstances."

Sir Stephen also mentioned that the DWP is consulting on support for individuals affected by the eligibility changes, including meeting health and care needs. He explained that PIP is not based on the health condition itself, but rather the "functional disability as the result of one or more conditions and it is the additional costs of the sum of that disability that PIP is awarded for".

A wider review of the PIP assessment, led by Sir Stephen, is also planned, bringing together experts, stakeholders, and individuals with lived experience to determine the best approach. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has estimated that changes to the eligibility rules for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) could result in 370,000 current claimants losing their entitlement when their award is reviewed during the 2029/30 financial year.

According to an impact assessment published in March, it's also predicted that 430,000 future PIP claimants will not qualify for the disability benefit once the reforms are implemented, with an average loss of £4,500 each year.