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PIP and Disability Benefits in 2025: What’s Changing and the Impact on Lifelong or Progressive Conditions

Written by

Georgina, Founder of Purpl

Published on

October 13, 2025

Two people chatting outdoors beside a river, one seated in a wheelchair and the other on a bench, symbolising the human impact of government reforms and upcoming 2025 changes to PIP and disability benefits in the UK.

There’s been a lot of confusion online about PIP changes 2025 and claims that “700,000 people are being excluded from benefits.” It’s understandable — headlines can sound alarming, especially when you already live with uncertainty about your support.

If you have a permanent or progressive disability and already receive PIP (Personal Independence Payment) with an ongoing or long-term award that doesn’t require reassessments, these discussions do not affect your current entitlement.

This guide outlines confirmed updates, explores current discussions, and shows you where to find clear, trusted information — with Purpl insights and tips to help you stay informed and confident.

At a Glance

  • The DWP hasn’t announced that 700,000 people miss out on benefits under PIP changes 2025.
  • The government confirmed one main Universal Credit 2025 update: from April, deductions will drop to 15%, giving many households more money each month.
  • The Cost of Living Payments have ended, and the government has no plans to restart them in 2025.
    The DWP is still consulting on possible PIP reforms, but nothing has been decided, and current PIP claimants keep their support.
  • People with lifelong or progressive disabilities who hold long-term awards continue receiving their regular payments without repeated checks.
  • The 700,000 figure seen online refers to households with children benefiting from the Universal Credit 2025 deduction cap, not to anyone losing PIP or disability support.

In this Article


Universal Credit: What’s Actually Changing

From 30 April 2025, the maximum deduction rate from Universal Credit will fall from 25% to 15%.
This means if you have repayments (for example, for an advance), you’ll keep more of your benefit each month.

The DWP says around 1.2 million households, including 700,000 with children, will benefit — keeping around £420 more a year on average.

Read Official DWP Announcement on GOV.UK

Purpl Insight: This change will be applied automatically from April 2025 — you don’t need to contact the DWP.


Cost of Living Payments: What’s Ended

The government’s Cost of Living Payment scheme ran from 2022 to 2024 to help people manage higher energy bills and rising prices. These were one-off payments for people on benefits such as Universal Credit, PIP and ESA, designed as short-term support during the energy crisis.

The DWP has confirmed the scheme has now ended, and there will be no new payments in 2025. The official guidance on GOV.UK makes clear that the last round of payments was completed in 2024.

Cost of Living Payment Guidance
Cost of Living Support Overview

Even though these payments have stopped, there is still ongoing help for people on low incomes or with disabilities, including:

  • Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payment
  • Cold Weather Payment during severe temperature drops
  • Council Tax Reduction through local councils
  • Disability-related top-ups such as Severe Disability Premium or Carer’s Allowance

Purpl Tip: If your household costs have increased, check with your local council or energy supplier for hardship funds or grants — especially if you rely on medical equipment or mobility aids.


PIP Changes 2025: What’s Being Discussed, Not Decided

In 2024, the government launched a consultation called Modernising Support for Independent Living. It looks at how disability benefits might work differently in future.

The DWP carried out PIP changes 2025 modelling to explore how future reforms might work. In those projections, the department estimated that around 800,000 people could lose eligibility for the PIP daily living component if the proposed rules took effect in later years, such as 2029 or 2030. This estimate includes roughly 370,000 existing recipients reviewed under new criteria and 430,000 new applicants who might not qualify.

These figures come from DWP reform modelling, not confirmed policy decisions. They help show potential impacts only and do not affect current PIP awards.

You can read more in the official DWP consultation papers and equality reports linked below.

Modernising Support for Independent Living Consultation
Equality Analysis: Health and Disability Reforms (2025)
House of Commons Library Summary

Purpl Insight: If you have an ongoing or light-touch award for a lifelong or degenerative condition, this consultation does not affect you.


The “700,000 Excluded” Myth Explained

The figure of 700,000 being shared online does not refer to anyone losing disability support. Instead, it comes from the DWP’s 2025 announcement about the Universal Credit deductions cap, which lowers the repayment limit from 25% to 15%.

In that announcement, the DWP confirmed:

  • Around 1.2 million households will benefit from the lower deductions
  • 700,000 of those households include children
  • Each household is expected to keep around £420 more a year on average

However, some social media posts have taken this number out of context and claimed that 700,000 people will lose benefits. In reality, that claim is incorrect — the figure actually shows how many people gain extra financial support.

Furthermore, there is no DWP policy or consultation that removes or excludes current PIP recipients or people with permanent or progressive disabilities from receiving support.ilities from support. The PIP reform discussions are still in consultation stages only.

Purpl Insight: Numbers online often lose context. Before believing viral claims:

  • Check Official GOV.UK Announcements for verified updates
  • Visit the DWP Newsroom for current statements, consultations and press releases
  • Look for direct references or data sources, not screenshots or quotes from social media

If a number or headline sounds worrying, pause and verify — official information is updated frequently and clearly explains which policies are live, proposed, or still under consultation.


Where to Get Help and Stay Informed About DWP Updates

If you’ve seen confusing posts about benefit changes, the best thing you can do is go straight to official government sources or trusted disability-focused platforms. These links take you directly to verified, regularly updated pages.

Official sources

  • Cost of Living Payments Guidance
    The official GOV.UK page lists who received the 2022–2024 Cost of Living Payments, shows when each payment went out, and states that the DWP will not issue new Cost of Living Payments in 2025.
  • Cost of Living Support Overview
    A clear summary of current help available through government schemes, including energy discounts, tax reliefs and benefits that continue after the Cost of Living Payments have ended.
  • Modernising Support for Independent Living Consultation
    Details of the government’s consultation on possible future PIP reform, including the Health and Disability Green Paper. This is not a policy yet — it’s a consultation open to public and expert feedback.
  • Equality Analysis: Spring Statement 2025
    The government’s official report analysing how proposed changes to health and disability benefits could affect different groups. It explains the modelling behind the projected 800,000 figure shared in headlines.

Final Thoughts: Disability Support 2025

If you live with a lifelong or progressive disability, it’s understandable to feel uneasy when you hear about PIP changes 2025 or new disability benefit updates. Stay reassured — your current PIP award stays secure, and the DWP is not removing existing support.

The confirmed 2025 changes aim to make the system fairer, not reduce anyone’s income.

The Universal Credit 2025 update lowers deductions so households can keep more money each month.
Although the Cost of Living Payments have finished, several other types of financial help remain available for disabled people and carers.

At Purpl, we’ll keep breaking down what’s real, what’s rumour, and where you can find genuine support — so you can stay focused on living your life, not chasing policy updates.

Stay informed. Stay confident. Stay Purpl.


FAQs on PIP Changes 2025 and Related Support

1. Will I lose my PIP in 2025 because of PIP changes 2025?

No — there are no active policy changes in 2025 that remove PIP from existing claimants. Proposed PIP reform is still in consultation.

If you already receive PIP on a long-term or ongoing award for a lifelong or progressive condition, your support continues as normal.

2. When will the new PIP eligibility rules start?

Not before late 2026, and expected to apply to new claims first.

3. What is the “daily living requirement” mentioned in the PIP reform?

One model tests needing at least 4 points in one daily living activity to qualify. This is modelling, not a rule.

4. Do PIP changes 2025 affect the mobility component?

Not directly. The current modelling mainly looks at changes to daily living rather than the mobility element. If reforms happen, they are more likely to adjust how people qualify for daily living support, while mobility rules remain broadly similar.

5. How could these reforms affect existing claims?

Government modelling suggests around 370,000 current PIP claimants might lose the daily living component when reviewed under possible new criteria — but again, this is modelling, not confirmed policy. Nothing changes for current claimants in 2025.

6. Are people with lifelong or progressive conditions exempt from reassessments?

Generally yes: light-touch reviews or no regular reassessments for permanent/degenerative conditions.

7. Will PIP changes 2025 affect my Universal Credit or deductions?

From April 2025, UC deductions are capped at 15%, so most households keep more each month.


About the Author

Georgina, founder of Purpl, smiling in a pink patterned dress against a pastel background. Beside her, a message highlights her commitment to helping disabled people save money through exclusive discounts while advocating for accessibility, financial support, and independence. | Purpl disabled discounts, accessibility savings UK.

Georgina is the founder of Purpl, a platform dedicated to helping disabled people save money through exclusive discounts. Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and ADHD, she understands firsthand the financial challenges of living with a disability. Her mission is to work with brands to secure discounts that ease the cost of essential products, services, and everyday expenses for the disabled community.

As an ambulatory wheelchair user, Georgina knows how it feels to lose independence due to a disability. She is passionate about holistic therapies and diet to manage inflammation and stay as healthy as possible. Her goal is to make Purpl an essential resource for disabled people, offering practical support, advice, and financial relief.

Beyond Purpl, Georgina has a long-term vision to launch a foundation providing grants for disabled people who need extra financial support.

Follow @Purpldiscounts on social media for the latest disability discounts, financial advice, and accessibility resources.


Other articles, or links, you might find useful:

How to Apply for PIP and Maximise the Benefits in the UK
DWP Confirms Small Benefits Increase for PIP, Carer’s Allowance & More
Going Abroad On PIP: The 4-Week Rule That Could Pause Your Payments
How to Challenge a PIP Decision in the UK: What to Do If Your Claim Is Refused or Underpaid
PIP Reform 101: Latest Update on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Changes
PIP Discounts and Freebies 2025: Maximise Savings with your PIP Benefits

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