Welfare cuts: What's been happening with Pip and universal credit?

Welfare cuts: What's been happening with Pip and universal credit?Image source, Getty ImagesPublished17 March 20251123 CommentsUpdated Just nowA key disability benefit is "not fit for purpose" and requires fundamental change, a review has said.Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms has been leading a review into Personal Independence Payments (Pip) and his comments came as its interim report was published.The review was commissioned by the government last year after it was forced to water down planned cuts to benefits in the face of fierce opposition from backbench Labour MPs.What is Pip and what is it worth?Pip is paid to 3.7 million people with a long-term physical or mental health condition, external in England and Wales.It is not linked to someone's savings or income and does not affect other benefits, or the benefit cap, external. People can get Pip if they are working.Pip includes a daily living component and a mobility component. Claimants may be eligible for one or both.The daily living payments are:a standard rate of £76.70 per weekan enhanced rate of £114.60 per weekThe mobility payments - which are not affected by the changes - are:a standard rate of £30.30 per weekan enhanced rate of £80.00 per weekWhat is happening to Pip?In March 2025, the government announced plans to tighten daily living assessments for both current and future Pip claimants. However, after more than 120 Labour MPs threatened to vote against the legislation, the government said those already receiving Pip would not be affected. The original proposals said that people with the highest levels of a permanent condition or disability would no longer have to be reassessed at all. The assessments involve questions about everyday tasks, with each scored from zero, for no difficulty, to 12, for most difficulty.For example, needing help to wash your hair, or your body below the waist scores two points, but needing help to wash between the shoulders and waist is worth four poi...