In March 2025, the Government published its Pathways to Work Green Paper, detailing its plans to reform the welfare system. The plans included the first substantial cut to carers’ benefits in a generation.
Thanks to significant pressure from unpaid carers, disabled people, and supporters who joined our #ProtectCarersBenefits campaign, the Government has made important changes to the proposed legislation.
On 1 July, during the second reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, Sir Stephen Timms MP confirmed that the Government would remove all provisions relating to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – and carers’ benefits – from the Bill. This means:
- There will be no changes to PIP or carers’ benefits as originally proposed.
- Any future changes to PIP will not be introduced before Autumn 2026, and only after the Government’s full, co-produced review of PIP has been completed.
- Any future changes will only apply to new PIP claimants.
This is a significant change to the bill, achieved through the vital campaigning of thousands who united against the proposed cuts to PIP.
What remains in the bill?
The bill still contains changes to the Universal Credit (UC) Standard Allowance and Limited Capacity for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).
For new claimants of LCWRA, the Government is proposing to reduce the health element by £47 per week (from £97 per week in 2024/25 to £50 per week in 2026/27). The rate of health element will also be frozen until 2029/30. This means that new claimants will receive half the amount of support that current claimants receive.
The Government will also increase the UC standard allowance more than the rate of inflation for new and existing claimants every year until 2029/30.
What will Carers UK be doing next?
We will be working with disability organisations to challenge the remaining proposals, particularly those affecting Universal Credit.
We will also be closely engaging with the PIP review process, ensuring carers’ voices are heard and reflected. We will continue to advocate for a fair and supportive welfare system that recognises the challenges that unpaid carers face every day.
Carers UK has published a full policy briefing to help you better understand the current proposals. This will be regularly updated to reflect new developments.
You can read our statement responding to the Government’s changes and Spring Statement here.
Help and advice
We know that these changes will be concerning for many carers and their families. For information and advice, please visit:
Our Help and Advice pages
If you have any questions around the changes or need advice, please contact advice@carersuk.org or call our helpline on 0808 808 7777 (Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm).
Please note: it is important that carers are aware that the Government’s proposed changes to PIP will not come into effect until November 2026 at the earliest and will now only affect new claimants.
