Government benefit changes – what you need to know

You may have seen on the news that the government has proposed some changes to the benefits system as part of its ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper. We want to make sure you know what this means and assure you that there is no immediate impact on anyone's benefits. 

What you need to know right now: 

• At the moment, the government is only making proposals  

• Nothing is likely to change until 2026 and there’s no action you need to take right now 

• If you already receive these benefits, your local benefits office will give you lots of notice of any changes and what this means for you personally. 

• Stonewater and our partners can support you with money advice, mental health support and more. You can find all the information you need in our Help with Money guide.    

What is being proposed? 

The government plans to change how disability benefits work and who gets them. Some of the things they’re considering changing include: 

• Changes to disability benefit assessments, including merging the Work Capability Assessment with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments. 

• Changes to the amount you can claim  

• Adjustments to eligibility criteria for PIP and Universal Credit (UC). 

• Increased employment support for those who can work. 

• Changes to how benefits are paid 

• Raising the age at which young people transition from Disability Living Allowance for children to PIP from 16 to 18. 

• Delaying access to the Universal Credit health element until age 22, which could affect some younger claimants. 

• Changes to how assessments are carried out, moving back to face-to-face. 

Who will this affect? 

These changes might affect people receiving or applying for PIP, Universal Credit, and other disability-related benefits. People with health conditions or disabilities who receive these benefits may see changes to how they are assessed and what financial support they receive. Young people transitioning from child to adult benefits and people applying for the health element of Universal Credit in the future may also be impacted. 

When will these changes happen? 

The proposals are still under consultation, and no immediate changes will take place. The government has outlined plans for some reforms to begin in 2026. 

What do you need to do? 

At this stage, there is no action required from you. Your benefits will not change immediately, and any future changes will come with updates from the government and your local benefits office well in advance. 

How we can help 

We understand that any changes to benefits can be concerning. We've compiled a list of ways we can support customers with money, emotional support, budgeting and more. You can find it on our website here.