Changes to disability benefits
Find the most up-to-date information on benefit changes and the government's reforms of benefits for disabled people of working age.
In March 2025, the government announced plans to change the eligibility criteria and assessment processes for Personal Independence Payment, Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance. We know this is worrying for many people with Parkinson's.
Why is the government reforming these benefits?
The government says they're making changes to benefits for working-age people with disabilities because the number of working-age people receiving health and disability benefits has grown considerably since 2019.
The government wants to cut the number of people on them, and the cost of providing them.
What's the situation as of June 2026?
After the government announced they wanted to make changes in March 2025, they faced opposition to their proposals from MPs, charities (including Parkinson's UK), people with disabilities and many others.
As a result, the government has changed their proposals several times.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
The government originally intended to change the PIP assessment criteria and process, with a view to reducing the number of people who are eligible for the benefit.
In July 2025, the government decided to wait for the results of a review of PIP before going ahead with any changes. The review should finish by autumn 2026.
So the earliest any changes will happen (if they do happen at all) is late 2026.
Read our information about PIP.
Universal Credit
In July 2025, MPs voted to implement the following changes Universal Credit from April 2026:
- Current claimants whose ability to work is limited by a health condition or disability will continue to get an extra £429.80 per month.
- For new claims this amount will drop to £217.26 a month. However, new claimants will get £429.80 a month if they have fewer than 12 months to live, or meet the 'severe conditions' criteria. Find out more about the severe conditions criteria on our Universal Credit page.
From April 2029, the government is also planning to change the way people are assessed for Universal Credit, scrapping the Work Capability Assessment currently used.
Read our information about Universal Credit.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
In March 2025, the government announced a proposal to merge ESA with Jobseeker’s Allowance to make a new time-limited ‘Unemployment Insurance’ benefit.
People with an illness or disability who are out of work would be able to access it without an assessment, no matter their income or savings. They may be exempt from having to look for work depending on their health.
They could get this time-limited benefit if they’ve made enough National Insurance contributions in the last 2 to 3 years.
Current proposals indicate a start date of 2029 for these changes.
What can I do if I'm worried?
If you have any questions or concerns at all, our helpline and specially trained advisers can talk through your situation and give you information on these changes. Get in touch with our helpline.
I'm in Scotland. Will these changes affect me?
Universal Credit and ESA are UK-wide benefits, so the changes above apply to people in Scotland, as well as in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has replaced PIP in Scotland, although it has similar rules and criteria. The Scottish government hasn't announced any plans to make reforms to ADP.
Campaign against these changes
We're campaigning to stop these benefits reforms and for a fairer welfare system for people with Parkinson's. We need your help.