Some 126 MPs within the party had signed an amendment to halt the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which faces its first House of Commons hurdle later today
A major vote on controversial welfare reforms is due to be held today after Labour announced significant concessions to stave off a rebellion from Labour MPs.
Some 126 MPs within the party had signed an amendment to halt the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which faces its first House of Commons hurdle later today.
The original package included tightening the eligibility for the disability benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit.
Existing claimants were to be given a 13-week protection period – but now, further concessions have been confirmed by Labour in order to convince MPs to back the bill.
Follow our live blog for the latest update on the welfare benefits cut vote
What is PIP?
PIP is the main disability benefit for people of working age in the UK. You may qualify for PIP if you need extra help with everyday tasks due to an illness, disability or mental health condition.
But your eligibility to PIP isn’t based on your condition – it is based on how it affects your life. PIP comes in two parts – the daily living component, and the mobility component.
You will normally be asked to attend an assessment and this uses a points system to decide if you are eligible for one, or both, parts of PIP.
The assessment can be done in-person, by phone, or video call. If your claim is successful, you’ll get PIP for a fixed amount of time before it is reviewed.
PIP can be awarded for a minimum of nine months, all the way up to an “on-going” award which is reviewed every ten years. If you’re terminally ill the award will be for three years.
How is PIP currently assessed?
Your PIP assessment can take place in person, over the phone or by video call. During your assessment, a health professional may ask you to do simple movements, or ask you questions to test your cognitive ability.
During your assessment, you’ll be awarded points for the daily living and mobility parts of PIP. If you score between eight and 11 points for your daily living needs in the PIP test, you get the standard rate of the daily living component.
You get the higher rate of daily living component if you score 12 points or more. If you score between eight and 11 points for your mobility needs, you get the standard rate of the mobility component.
If you score 12 points or more, you get the higher rate of mobility component. Those who are terminally ill won’t need a PIP medical assessment.
How is PIP changing?
Earlier this year, Labour announced plans to tighten PIP eligibility rules and confirmed the assessment process will also be reviewed.
The changes would mean you would need a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP from November 2026.
Currently, you can qualify for PIP if you have lower scores across a range of tasks. This means claimants would need to show greater difficulty when completing some tasks, such as washing, eating and getting dressed, to be eligible to claim PIP.
However, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer has now agreed that the changes to PIP will now only apply to new claims from November 2026.
There are no changes planned for the PIP mobility component for new and existing claimants.
How much is PIP?
The daily living rate is worth £73.90 a week if you’re awarded the lower rate, or £110.40 a week for the higher rate. The mobility rate is worth £29.20 a week for the lower rate, or £77.05 a week for the higher rate.
PIP is paid every four weeks, so if you’re awarded the maximum rates for both the daily living and mobility elements, then you would get £749.80 every four weeks.
