The Government’s plans to reform the welfare system, as set out in its recently published Pathways to Work Green Paper, include the first substantial cut to carers’ benefits in a generation.
Significant pressure has caused the Government to make changes to the Bill. But, we are extremely concerned by the proposed changes and the devastating impact they will have on unpaid carers and their families.
The proposed Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill originally meant an estimated 150,000 unpaid carers would lose their benefits’ entitlements by the end of the decade. However, after significant pressure, the Government has made some changes. Most notably, the Government has agreed to protect existing claimants on PIP which will mean carers still have access to Carer's Allowance. However, this doesn’t change the devastating impact on future carers who would no longer be entitled to Carer's Allowance as a result of the PIP changes.
You can read our statement responding to the Government’s Spring Statement here, and see our full policy briefing looking at the proposals in detail here. We also provide more detail about the proposed changes below.
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.
Join our campaign to protect carers' benefits
On Tuesday 1st July, MPs will be asked to vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. The Bill includes proposals to change PIP eligibility criteria that will result in in future carers being unable to claim to carers’ benefits.
Ahead of this vote, we are calling on the Government to reconsider its forthcoming legislation, particularly the tightening of the eligibility criteria for daily living component of PIP which will require new claimants to score 4 points in any single assessment category to receive the benefit. We are also calling on the Government to improve carers’ benefits to combat carer poverty, rather than cut entitlement to them. In addition, we are calling for separate engagement with unpaid carers to consider the impacts of the PIP review and a full review of Carer’s Allowance.
What you can do to stand up for carers:
Please sign our open letter today and join us in calling on the Government to urgently reconsider these proposals and protect carers’ incomes!
Write to your MP using our template letter, letting them know this legislation will drive thousands of carers further into poverty and ask them to stand up for carers.
We will take every opportunity to raise carers’ voices with Ministers and MPs in the coming weeks, and we’ll share more ways you can get involved in the campaign soon.
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).
