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KEY CHANGES TO PIP ELIGIBILITY ARE COMING IN FROM NEXT YEAR NICHOLAS DAWSON 05:12, 10 May 2025 The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared details on the 150,000 benefit claimants
who are set to lose out on payments due to changes coming into effect next year. Earlier this year, Labour ministers unveiled a series of measures aimed at reducing the benefits bill, which
included tightening the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). DWP projections indicate that these alterations would result in an average drop in payments of £4,500
for those impacted by 2029/2030. This would affect 370,000 current claimants as well as 430,000 future claimants. But the changes could have a knock-on effect meaning others also lose out on
eligibility for benefit payments. As MPs prepare to vote on the proposed changes, Baroness Ruth Lister questioned the Labour Government about the number of carers looking after individuals
receiving PIP who would be adversely affected by the changes. She specifically enquired about the number of these carers who would no longer be eligible for Carer's Allowance and those
who would no longer qualify for the carer element of Universal Credit. In response, Labour Baroness Maeve Sherlock provided figures suggesting that 150,000 people receiving carer's
benefits would be impacted by the changes by 2029/2030. She stated that this would include 107,000 individuals who would lose out on Carer's Allowance payment, with 96,000 set to lose
out on the carer's element of Universal Credit. The overall figure also encompasses 55,000 people who would lose out on both Carer's Allowance and the carer's element,
resulting in their benefits dropping by the equivalent of the carer's element. HOW MUCH IS CARER'S ALLOWANCE AND THE CARER'S ELEMENT OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT? To be eligible for
Carer's Allowance, you must provide at least 35 hours a week of care for someone who is receiving a specific qualifying benefit, such as the daily living component of PIP. The current
rate for Carer's Allowance is £83.30 per week, or £4,331.60 annually. Similarly, to receive the carer's element of Universal Credit, you need to provide care for someone for a
minimum of 35 hours a week. The individual you care for also needs to qualify for a certain health or disability-related benefit, one of which can be the daily living component of PIP. The
carer's element is currently valued at £201.68 monthly, or £2,420.16 annually. Claimants should be aware that if you claim both Carer's Allowance and Universal Credit, your
Universal Credit payment will be reduced by an amount equivalent to your Carer's Allowance payment. However, you can still separately receive the carer's element of Universal
Credit, in addition to your standard allowance for Universal Credit and any extra payments you get through the benefit. HOW IS ELIGIBILITY FOR PIP CHANGING? PIP helps cover the additional
costs incurred by a person living with a long-term health condition or disability, including a daily living part and a mobility part. A new qualifying rule is proposed to be introduced from
November 2026, which will make it more difficult to qualify for the daily living component. The new rule stipulates that you must score at least one four across the 10 daily living
activities that are assessed to determine how your condition affects you and if you should receive the lower or higher rate, or no payment at all. Currently, a total of at least eight is
required across all the activities to receive the lower rate, which stands at £73.90 a week, and a total of at least 12 to receive the higher rate, currently £110.40 a week. Article
continues below This implies that an individual could score consistent 2s across the activities, qualifying them for the higher rate under the current system, but under the new rules they
may not qualify for any daily living part. This would mean a yearly income drop of £5,740.80.