Government withdraws Personal Independence Payment four point rule, but Universal Credit cuts remain

During the debate on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on Tuesday (1 July), the Minister Sir Stephen Timms said the clause on PIP, which would make it harder to access, would be removed.

Instead, the government is reviewing the PIP assessment, including eligibility criteria, alongside health charities like Parkinson’s UK and those living with Parkinson’s who have been through the PIP assessment. It’s expected the review will report in Autumn 2026.

This means the planned changes to eligibility have been suspended. Such changes would have meant applicants having to score at least 4 points in one specific daily living activity to receive the daily living component.

Earlier this week, the PIP assessment terms of reference were published. Both Parkinson’s UK and a person living with the condition met the Social Security and Disability Minister to discuss the problems with the assessment process.

The Minister has committed to the review being co-produced with organisations and health charities such as Parkinson’s UK. We've already engaged with the Minister’s review and will continue to do so. We'll ensure the voices of the Parkinson’s community are heard.

Your contact made a difference!

Thanks to campaigners and supporters for signing our open letter, which we handed into the DWP on Monday (30 June), and contacting your MPs. This pressure meant they pushed the government to make concessions.

Action needed to safeguard UC

While we’re pleased the government has finally listened, there are still issues with the bill.

UC is a means-tested income replacement benefit for people who are out of work or on a low income. And the extra health top-up payment can provide a crucial boost to someone living with a long-term condition or disability.

The government plans to introduce a ‘severe conditions’ criteria. This would cover people who cannot ever complete a specified action, for example pushing a button. But Parkinson's symptoms often fluctuate from hour to hour. This means those living with the condition may be able to complete the action at certain times but not others. 

Alf’s story

Alf was a bus driver who had to stop working due to Parkinson’s. On the basis of his severe tremor and other symptoms, he was accepted as having limited capability for work-related activity because he could not reliably press a button on a telephone keypad or turn the pages of a book any time he might want or need to.

Under the proposed requirement, that inability to perform an activity must 'constantly apply', so Alf would not be found to have limited capability for work-related activity, despite his entirely unreliable dexterity. This means that if the new requirement becomes law, Alf would not receive the extra UC health top-up payment.

Sue Christoforou, Parkinson’s UK Policy Manager commented: 

"The government was forced to concede major changes to the dangerous and flawed UCPIP Bill, thanks to campaigning by disabled people, organisations and charities across the UK, as well as MPs who listened.

"The UK government failed to present any rationale for cutting eligibility for PIP, other than a desire to cut costs. So we're delighted that PIP changes - rather than cuts - will now be subject to a process of consultation with disabled people and those with long-term conditions, as they always should have been.

"However, the cut to the UC health element will still be debated and if agreed will push the poorest disabled people further into poverty. We urge the government to stop this damaging change.

"We will continue to work with the disabled community to urge MPs to stop the dangerous UC cuts in the bill and continue to press the government to review those plans. Any reformed system needs to be co-produced with charities and disabled people’s organisations. Disabled people and those living with long-term conditions deserve so much more."

We will continue to campaign to ensure that people with Parkinson's get the support they need to live independently.