The DWP says changes will include the time between checks on whether a claimant still qualifies for Personal Independence Payment
Millions of people claiming disability benefits face a major shake-up as ministers move to dramatically change the gap between reviews. Those in receipt of benefits must face regular checks to ensure they are receiving the right amount of money.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says the time between checks on whether a claimant still qualifies for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will be lengthened from as little as nine months to as long as five years. The move forms part of a wider package of reforms designed to cut UK welfare spending by £1.9 billion by the end of 2030/31 while also tackling a large backlog of people waiting for a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
Currently, some claimants are reviewed in under a year, despite most seeing no change to their award. Under the new plans, the majority of PIP claimants aged 25 and over will face a minimum review period of three years for a new claim.
This will rise to five years at their next review if they remain entitled. Ministers say extending review periods will free up health professionals to carry out more assessments face-to-face and clear long delays in work capability checks.
The DWP confirmed that face-to-face assessments will be ramped up sharply. For PIP, in-person assessments will rise from 6% in 2024 – around 57,000 cases – to 30% of all assessments.
For the Work Capability Assessment, the proportion will increase from 13% in 2024, or 74,000 cases, to 30%. The changes reverse a pandemic-era shift to virtual checks, after contracts agreed by the previous government required 80% of assessments to be carried out remotely.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “We’re committed to reforming the welfare system we inherited, which for too long has written off millions as too sick to work. That is why we are ramping up the number of assessments we do face-to-face and taking action to tackle the inherited backlog of people waiting for a Work Capability Assessment.
“These reforms will allow us to save £1.9 billion, creating a welfare state that supports those who need it while helping people into work and delivering fairness to the taxpayer.”
Overall, the measures are expected to save the taxpayer £1.9 billion by the end of 2030/31. Treasury forecasts suggest savings of £85 million in 2026/27, rising to £580 million by 2029/30, with total savings reaching £1.95 billion by early 2031.
The DWP says reducing the frequency of PIP award reviews will cut down “the number of people who are called to a PIP assessment when their [disability] function has not changed”, while allowing more resources to be focused on work capability reassessments.
The changes sit alongside wider welfare reforms, including the rebalancing of Universal Credit from April next year and the redeployment of 1,000 work coaches. Ministers also point to employment support schemes such as Connect to Work, aimed at helping 300,000 sick or disabled people into jobs by the end of the parliament.
Total spending on disability benefits is forecast to continue rising, from £41.4 billion last year to £65.3 billion by the end of 2031, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
The extended review periods are classed as “operational” changes and are separate from the Timms Review, which is examining the role of PIP, its assessment process and criteria. That review will report later and may require primary legislation.
The new rules on assessment frequency are due to take effect from April 2026, alongside changes to Universal Credit that narrow the gap between payments for unemployment and long-term sickness.
