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PIP Changes 2025: Everything You Need to Know About the New Personal Independence Payment Rules
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
March 8, 2025
Hello everyone,
After months of speculation and much worry and concern from the disabled community, there has finally been an update on PIP and Welfare Cuts for 2025 and I wanted to share the news with our community so we can begin to talk about the fears of disabled people in the UK.
We have seen many articles over the last few months about the upcoming PIP changes with fears over vouchers replacing PIP benefit payments amongst other ideas. Finally today, the government have announced some of the changes to the PIP system.
According to ITV News, the government is planning to unveil more than £6bn of cuts to welfare spending and we will see “far tougher tests imposed for a key disability benefit, some payments frozen in 2026, and major changes to the way universal credit is calculated.”
These significant welfare cuts focus on Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit. One of the key components of the reforms includes making it harder for people to qualify for PIP, which as we know is meant to assist people with the extra costs of living with disabilities. It is also believed that PIP payments will be frozen, meaning they will not increase in line with inflation.
The government is also reworking Universal Credit, raising the basic rate for those in work or actively seeking employment, while reducing the rate for individuals deemed unfit to work. The intention is to encourage more people, even those with health issues or disabilities, to seek employment. A portion of the savings, £1 billion, will be redirected into job search support.
However, these changes have sparked strong criticism from the community, advocates and experts, warning that such cuts will disproportionately affect disabled people, many of whom already struggle with the cost of living and healthcare.
Disability charities, such as Scope, have expressed concerns that cutting PIP would push more disabled people into poverty. They argue that the benefit is vital for covering costs like mobility aids and transportation, which many rely on to work. Scope say the Disability Price Tag means that life as a disabled person in the UK costs over £1000 more than a non-disabled person.
Recent data highlights the severity of these cuts. People who claim health-related benefits are already disproportionately affected by poverty, with almost half struggling with food insecurity. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) reports that cuts to PIP and UC could deepen hardship, especially for low-income families, with many already relying on food banks and struggling with rising bills. Critics argue that these cuts risk further impoverishing the most vulnerable.
Disabled people have raised fears that these cuts will worsen their financial and health situations, already fragile due to existing benefits and critics argue that the government’s approach risks increasing poverty and undermining support for those most in need.
These changes are being implemented as part of a broader strategy to reduce public spending. However, the government’s focus on cuts to disability and health-related benefits has sparked significant concern. Disability advocates and policy experts urge that the government reconsider its approach to avoid further harm to the most vulnerable in society.
We are a disabled led business, we are part of the disabled community and understand the huge barriers and stressful financial implications of disability. We know that Purpl alone cannot fix the problems with how the UK treats disabled people and the Disability Price Tag of living with a disability, but we do understand, we do care, and we are trying to offer any support we can.
Our discounts with brands such as Morrisons, aim to help with daily costs as Purpl members get 10% off their grocery shopping, we also work with brands for things like mobile phone bills, utilities, clothing and mobility aids. Alongside the discounts, we are producing guides on as many benefits, grants and financial support for disabled people and our facebook community offer peers support and information.
We know people will be feeling afraid and concerned about their futures right now, and understand that times are difficult. But there are many people fighting for the rights of disabled people and we join them in always standing up and trying to make a positive change to the lives of our community.
If you are not already a Purpl member, you can join for free if you are a disabled person in the UK with certain verification documents. Find out more in our how to join Purpl Guide here.
Sending kind thoughts to you all,
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.
She lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband, son, three stepsons, two cats, and a friendly Labrador. A keen reader, Lego enthusiast, and family-focused person, Georgina is committed to building a supportive, inclusive community for those navigating life with a disability.
Follow @Purpldiscounts on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok for the latest disability discounts, financial advice, and accessibility resources.
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