**Major Government Reversal on PIP Payments Announced Following Backbench Rebellion**
In a significant U-turn by the government, people receiving the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have been assured their support will continue, following intense pressure from Labour backbenchers and extensive discussions within Westminster. The decision comes after widespread anxiety among recipients and a mounting challenge from within the ruling party over proposed welfare reforms.
The reversal, revealed in a letter by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, signals a marked shift in policy since the original proposals were unveiled. The government now states that current PIP beneficiaries will remain on the existing system, with forthcoming changes to eligibility criteria only affecting new claimants from November 2026 onwards.
This assurance comes alongside adjustments to Universal Credit, where payment rates will be recalibrated to ensure that anyone currently receiving the health element of the benefit – as well as new applicants meeting stringent health criteria – will see their incomes safeguarded in real terms. The move responds directly to concerns that the speed and scale of the originally planned reforms would disproportionately impact people already reliant on these essential lifelines.
In her letter addressed to MPs, Ms Kendall acknowledged the deep unease the previous proposals had caused within disabled communities and among MPs themselves. The response includes a promise of a ministerial review into PIP assessments, led by the Minister for Social Security and Disability, designed to create a system that genuinely reflects the needs and dignity of disabled individuals. The review, she emphasised, will actively involve disabled people, advocacy organisations, and parliamentarians throughout its process.
The government maintains its aim to build a social security system grounded in fairness, respect, and sustainability, whilst balancing the need to both support those unable to work and encourage those who can to re-enter employment. By staging these reforms and shielding current claimants from sudden change, ministers argue they are preserving the safety net for the most vulnerable while ensuring the financial stability of the programme for years to come.
According to Ms Kendall, the package includes the largest real-terms permanent increase to the standard rate of Universal Credit since the 1980s. In addition, individuals classified among the most vulnerable will no longer face repeated reassessments, further easing the burden and anxiety so often associated with benefit reviews.
The government’s revised approach follows urgent crisis talks in which around 126 Labour MPs backed an amendment calling for the planned legislation to be halted. The challenge underlines the depth of unease among lawmakers about hasty and sweeping changes to social security, particularly for disabled citizens.
At the same time, the bill championed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer—which covers both Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment—remains at the centre of parliamentary debate, with its next key reading scheduled imminently. This will offer MPs a formal opportunity to scrutinise and either endorse or reject the updated package of reforms.
Previously, the administration had intended to phase out financial support for existing claimants over a 13-week period, a move widely criticised for risking the wellbeing and stability of thousands of vulnerable people. Analysts estimate the government’s concessions will immediately protect some 370,000 claimants who otherwise faced a significant risk of losing support through reassessment.
The latest developments mark a critical moment in the UK’s ongoing conversation about how best to support those in society living with disabilities or serious health conditions. As ministers pledge to involve disabled people more closely in the reform process, all eyes will now be on the government to ensure that promised changes deliver genuine improvement without compromising security or equity for those most in need.
Beyond the immediate consequences for claimants, the episode also illustrates the powerful influence of collective parliamentary dissent—demonstrating how internal party challenges can reshape policy at the highest level. As public and political scrutiny continues, future reforms to PIP and Universal Credit will likely remain a contentious and closely watched issue throughout the coming months.