John GreenThe welfare reform legislation driven by Liz Kendall during her tenure as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is now taking effect — and the most significant changes for disabled people and carers are still to come. From November 2026, new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will need to score at least four points in a single daily living activity to qualify, a tighter threshold than the current rules. For people already navigating life on disability benefits, the question is no longer whether the changes are fair. It is what to do now to protect their finances.
What Is Changing and When
Two waves of reform are already in motion:
April 2026: The health top-up element of Universal Credit was reduced for new claimants. People who were already receiving it retain their current amount, but anyone making a new claim from April onwards receives less.
November 2026: A new PIP eligibility threshold takes effect. To qualify, a new claimant must score four points in at least one daily living category — rather than accumulating points across multiple activities to reach the threshold. This is a structural change that will make it harder for people with a range of moderate limitations to qualify, even if the total impact across their life is significant.
The government agreed, following a significant Labour backbench revolt, that existing PIP claimants would not face reassessment under the new criteria before an autumn 2026 review — but that protection is not permanent.
Why Trending Now: The Liz Kendall Connection
Although Liz Kendall left the DWP in September 2025 and was replaced by Pat McFadden, her name is back in the news because the legislation she shepherded through Parliament is now visible in real people's budgets. Critics on both the left and the disability rights community are pointing to her as the architect of cuts that her successor is now implementing.
For the 3.1 million current PIP claimants in England and Wales, the political attribution matters less than the financial reality.
The Financial Impact in Numbers
The PIP daily living component is worth between £72.65 and £108.55 per week at current rates, depending on the level of award. For someone who loses eligibility under the November 2026 threshold change, that is a reduction of between £3,777 and £5,645 a year. For people who also use PIP to unlock other means-tested benefits — such as enhanced premiums in Universal Credit — the knock-on loss can be significantly higher.
Carers whose PIP-claiming family members lose their award may also lose Carer's Allowance, worth £81.90 per week, if their care recipient no longer qualifies for the daily living component. These are not marginal changes.
What Financial Advisers Recommend Doing Now
1. Map Your Current Benefit Entitlements
Before November 2026, understand exactly which benefits you receive and how they interact. Use Turn2Us or Citizens Advice to verify your entitlements, and check whether your PIP award is currently used to unlock any other payments.
2. Challenge Unfair PIP Decisions Before the New Threshold Applies
If you have recently been refused PIP or had an award reduced on reassessment, the appeal period is still open. Tribunal appeal success rates for PIP decisions run at around 65-70 per cent when claimants are represented. A specialist welfare rights solicitor or independent financial adviser with benefits expertise can advise on the strength of your case.
3. Consider Building a Financial Buffer
The disability charity Scope and financial planners working with disabled people have consistently found that income from benefits is not supplemented by meaningful savings for most recipients. If your current income allows even modest regular saving — £20 to £50 per month — building a buffer before a potential award change in November is prudent financial management.
4. Review Your Wider Financial Position
A financial adviser who understands disability benefits can identify entitlements that many claimants miss: council tax reduction, blue badge-linked discounts, energy tariff exemptions, charitable grants, and NHS low income scheme support. These are not means-tested in the same way as benefits and may partially offset a benefit loss.
When to Consult a Professional
For people managing a PIP claim, the complexity of the benefit system — and the stakes involved — make professional advice valuable well before any appeal or reassessment. An independent financial adviser who specialises in disability and benefits can model the impact of different scenarios on your total income, identify alternative entitlements, and help you build a financial plan that accounts for the policy risk.
ExpertZoom can connect you with qualified financial advisers who understand the welfare system and can offer independent financial advice tailored to your circumstances. For broader context on the April 2026 benefit changes, see our guide on Universal Credit April 2026 changes and your rights.
This article provides general financial information only. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified independent financial adviser or welfare rights specialist.
