UK: Disability benefits (UC, ESA and PIP) - news and updates 2024 and 2025

Kitty said:
I always have, they never get less than 7,000 words. I'm quite happy to make the contractors work for their money, and I can blather for England.

There seems to be a lack of clarity about how the review might affect working age people still on DLA. I've suggested to a couple of people that they consider applying for PIP before they're invited, because it's possible changes will be made that won't apply to current claimants. If PIP daily living is harder to claim after the review and the UC health element depends on getting it, it might be beneficial to apply under the current rules.

It's tough, though, when people are unwell and it's all so bloody stressful and difficult. But another advantage of applying ahead of time is that you can draft most of your PIP application before you even ask for the application form. That's what I did; I knew I'd struggle to write it all up and pull together all the evidence in the short window you're allowed after requesting a form. I spent months on it, just doing one section at a time then having a break.
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Initially I wasn't sure whether I should just tick 'no change' on the light touch review form as I have plenty of points, including a number of 4 points and well above the 12 point threshold (even my mobility is 22 points, not just the 12 for the physical side). But as I've actually worsened and have another 'new' severe condition that affects my breathing and even ability to stand up, because of the abolition of the WCA and not knowing how they will treat people in terms of pressuring them into 'work related activity', I think it's probably best to give a detailed account of my functioning. I'll likely have to complete my light touch review before the Timms Report is completed, so it's a matter of judgment. Of course with the DWP and the government's drive to reduce the welfare bill, it makes sense to assume the worst case scenario. My main concern is how I'll be treated on UC until my retirement, which won't be until 2033, rather than the PIP award itself. Because my next PIP award should hopefully take me until after state pension age, I'm assuming I won't face another reassessment during my 'working age', so the DWP/Job Centre would only have this information to go on. I'll be requesting a paper based assessment though. I've had 2 face to face ones (the second one in my home) so they should have enough evidence to make a judgment, especially as it's a 'light touch' review.
 
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Simbindi said:
But as I've actually worsened and have another 'new' severe condition that affects my breathing and even ability to stand up, because of the abolition of the WCA and not knowing how they will treat people in terms of pressuring them into 'work related activity', I think it's probably best to give a detailed account of my functioning.
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Yeah, I think I'd do the same to be on the safe side. You're probably right that once you've cleared that hurdle you're unlikely to be asked to do another UC reassessment.

My initial PIP award was made when I was still of working age. I had to do a face-to-face for it, which wasn't surprising given that they hadn't reassessed me for nearly 15 years, but the most recent was done on paper with no changes to the points and an ongoing award. I suspect being close to retirement age might have been a factor in it going through without another F2F.

There must come a point with UC where people with enhanced disability awards and only a few years left before state pension age become such unlikely candidates for boosting DWP's back-to-work targets that it's not worth their while trying to put pressure on. Hopefully, anyway.
 
Kitty said:
Yeah, I think I'd do the same to be on the safe side. You're probably right that once you've cleared that hurdle you're unlikely to be asked to do another UC reassessment.

My initial PIP award was made when I was still of working age. I had to do a face-to-face for it, which wasn't surprising given that they hadn't reassessed me for nearly 15 years, but the most recent was done on paper with no changes to the points and an ongoing award. I suspect being close to retirement age might have been a factor in it going through without another F2F.

There must come a point with UC where people with enhanced disability awards and only a few years left before state pension age become such unlikely candidates for boosting DWP's back-to-work targets that it's not worth their while trying to put pressure on. Hopefully, anyway.
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My recent one they stated “face to face isn’t necessary as paper-based evidence is more useful” or something. I’ve never had a PIP face to face. I think they just have too many to assess/quicker and easier to not bother.
 
Sally Callow (Stripy Lightbulb) has obtained by a series of FOIs the DWP Work Capability Assessment Assessor Training Document for ME/CFS, which was co-created by BACME, which contradicts NICE, which has been used for training DWP assessors since 2023.

The training document appears to be a contradictory mash up of NICE Guideline and worrying BACME 'Rehabilitation' and goal setting dogma. The document "lists “not attributing the illness to a physical cause” as a “good prognostic feature.”. And states skill is needed for WCA assessors to judge 'which stated difficulties in persisting with tasks is due to the physical component of the illness, and which is due to psychological factors'

Signed off by the DWP in May 2023.

Link below Includes Sally Callow's assessment of the DWP document (link) and the DWP document itself:

UK:'Challenging Harmful and Out-of-Date DWP Training on M.E./C.F.S.' by Sally Callow, July 2025
Please go to the thread to discuss the document.
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