Reform targets PIP and Universal Credit in proposed DWP cuts

The party says almost three million people could see their disability and sickness payments withdrawn or modified under the proposed reforms.

Reform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said the plans would be the biggest shake-up of the welfare state in a generation.

The proposals, due to be set out in detail on Monday (August 17), would abolish Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit for working-age adults, according to The Telegraph.

Would there be any DWP benefits for disabled people under Reform plans?

A new Health Security Allowance would provide support for people who are “gravely ill and severely challenged”.

Mr Jenrick said 6.9 million people currently receive disability benefits, arguing that the rise in claims could not simply be explained by increasing levels of serious physical illness.

He said: “This is not an epidemic of broken backs and lost limbs”

Mr Jenrick said the proportion of working-age people claiming for mental health and behavioural conditions had tripled since 2002.

Under the proposed system, cash payments for lower-level conditions would end and be replaced with disability support accounts run by local councils and mayors.

These could be used to cover costs including equipment, adaptations, transport and personal assistance.

I’m a Reform voter. Late 50s, worked all my life, now unable to work after developing an incurable physical condition.

PIP & LCWRA are lifelines for genuinely disabled people. Reform says the “severely disabled” will be protected but who exactly does that mean?

We need answers.

— The Yorkshire Patriot (@TheYorkyPatriot) August 16, 2026

Millions could see benefits changed or withdrawn

Existing claimants would be reassessed over three to four years under the plans.

Mr Jenrick said: “We will not pretend this is painless.

“Existing claimants will be reassessed over three to four years: we estimate that 2.16 million will keep their present cash entitlement in full, while 2.89 million will see theirs modified or withdrawn, concentrated where recent growth has been most explosive.”

Reform estimates the proposals would save more than £50billion, with £22billion of the savings coming from changes to disability benefits.

Mr Jenrick said this would be more than double the £23billion in savings promised by Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives.

Reform says **2.89 million people** could have disability payments removed or changed under its welfare plans.

If you vote Reform, do not assume this only affects “someone else”.

These are parents, partners, children, neighbours and workers.

PIP is not an unemployment benefit,… pic.twitter.com/uKB3W9duan

— Wheelie MS Advocate - #PoweredByExperience - ♿️ (@WheelieFUMS) August 16, 2026

The proposals would also introduce a new system aimed at encouraging employers to get staff back to work.

Employers could be required to pay for “return to work cover”, which would fund the cost of the first two years after an employee is signed off sick.

Mr Jenrick said this would give firms a “strong economic incentive” to return employees to work.

Anyone who had not returned to work after two years would undergo a single, rigorous assessment conducted in person to “screen out vexatious and fraudulent claims”.

Mr Jenrick said the state should support people who need it, but added: “dumping our young people onto welfare isn’t compassion; it’s neglect”.

“We are not lifting people out of misfortune. We are abandoning them to it, and calling it kindness.”

£50bn Reform welfare plan 'fantasy economics' say opponents

Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately accused Reform of trying to distract from the investigation into a £5million donation to Nigel Farage and his “pointless by-election” in Clacton.

She said: “Reform have been nowhere on the debate on welfare reform.

"They have flip-flopped on restoring the two child benefit cap and claimed they’ll only take benefits away from foreigners, which won’t do enough to bring down the overall bill.”

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“The Conservatives are on the side of working people and we’re clear about our plans.

"Restore the two-child benefit cap, end benefits for low level mental health conditions, remove benefits from foreign nationals and restore face-to-face assessments.”

A Labour spokeswoman said: “Reform’s £50 billion claim is fantasy economics, built on stripping support from disabled people and shifting costs onto employers.”

She added that Labour's welfare reforms “deliver credible, independently costed savings, not arbitrary numbers with no credible plan behind them”.

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