Today the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has been laid in Parliament detailing proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Under the new proposals, those claiming the daily living component must score a minimum of 4 points in at least one daily living activity – either when they are assessed for a new claim or reassessed for an existing claim.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, said:

“Carers UK is deeply concerned to see the Government pressing ahead with welfare reform plans which will see 150,000 people lose their entitlement to carers’ benefits by 2029/30 - a reduction in financial support for carers worth £500 million.

“The Government is including transitional protection – a run on of 13 weeks of PIP which will mean entitlements to Carer’s Allowance and the Carer Element of Universal Credit would also continue for this time. This will mean that unpaid carers have longer to adjust which is important, but it will still be challenging for unpaid carers longer term.

“Our analysis shows that families who lose eligibility to both PIP and Carer’s Allowance will stand to lose over £8,000 a year, pushing more people into poverty. Carers UK research shows that the poverty rate is already more than double for those providing more than 35 hours of care per week (43%) compared to those without caring responsibilities (18%). 

 “At a time when social care is in short supply and families are having to provide more unpaid care than ever before, carers need their incomes protected rather than removed. The government must think about the knock-on effect for those continuing to provide at least 35 hours of care with no financial recognition as a result.  We are very concerned about the health and wellbeing impacts for unpaid carers.

“Challenges with social care services are impacting on peoples’ ability to juggle work and care. It is, in many cases, unrealistic to expect those at risk of losing benefits to return to work without a better reliable and affordable social care system in place.

“Unpaid carers save the UK economy £184 billion per year, but they tell us that a loss in income will make it harder for them to provide good quality care. It is not good enough to pull the rug from under peoples’ feet without undertaking a full and detailed assessment of the impact this will have on unpaid carers and those they care for.”