The Work and Pensions Secretary (DWP) told the Commons: “Every day there are more than 1,000 new PIP awards – that’s the equivalent of adding a population the size of Leicester every single year. That is not sustainable long-term above all for the people who depend on this support.”
She vowed to reform disability benefits “so they focus support on those in greatest need and to ensure the social security system lasts for the long-term into the future”.
This will include the decision not to means test PIP or to replace it with vouchers.
PIP will require a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element
Ms Kendall said: “This Government will not bring in the Tory proposals for vouchers because disabled people should have choice and control over their lives. We will not means test PIP because disabled people deserve extra support, whatever their income, and I can confirm we will not freeze PIP either.
“Instead, our reforms will focus support on those with the greatest needs. We will legislate for a change in PIP so people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of Pip from November 2026. This will not affect the mobility component of PIP and only relates to the daily living element.”
However, during the parliamentary debate following her statement, concerns were voiced about how PIP changes might work alongside the Blue Badge scheme or those holding a concession travel card for free bus journeys.
Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole Vikki Slade said: “The Secretary of State has confirmed that there will be changes to reassessments by DWP, but will that also apply across other Departments, including the Department for Transport, for matters including bus passes and Blue Badges? Those reassessments cause huge mental health issues.”
My Pip benefit has been awarded indefinitely (even the DWP recognises my cp isn’t going to change) so I don’t get letters. But Southwark council makes me renew my blue badge every three years, which requires a Pip letter dated in the last year. So I have to call DWP for a letter
— Lucy Webster (@Lucy_Webster_) December 18, 2024
The number of people in England with a disabled parking badge increased by 10.5% in a year to reach a record high, the latest figures show.
Ms Kendall responded: “The hon. Lady raises an important point. I will look at that and write to her to make sure we address it properly.”
Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination.
People who automatically get a Blue Badge
You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged 3 or over and at least one of the following applies:
- you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can’t walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component)
- you are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
- you receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking
- you receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress
If you have any score other than 10 points under descriptor E, in the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity of PIP you may still be eligible for a Blue Badge, but you do not automatically qualify.
There were 2.84 million valid blue badges at the end of March 2024, according to analysis of Department for Transport (DfT) data by the PA news agency and motoring research charity the RAC Foundation.
That is up from 2.57 million 12 months earlier and is the highest number in records dating back to 1997.
The percentage of the population holding a blue badge increased from 4.6% to 4.9% in the year to the end of March 2024.
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The regions with the highest and lowest percentages were the North East (5.8%) and London (3.3%) respectively.
In 2019 the eligibility criteria for blue badges was extended to include people with non-visible disabilities such as Parkinson’s, dementia and epilepsy.
I had a nightmare getting my blue badge renewed because my PIP took a year to be renewed, ive had it for 39yrs, my disability isn’t going away.
It got rejected twice, it was only when pip was confirmed did I get it back— M (@DpoidMonopod) March 21, 2025
Some 4.0% of badges were held by people with non-visible disabilities at the end of March last year.
Blue badges, which must be renewed every three years, help people with disabilities or health conditions access shops and services by enabling them to park closer to their destination.
Depending on the location, they often enable holders to park free of charge in pay-and-display bays and for up to three hours on single and double yellow lines.
In London, they exempt holders from having to pay the Congestion Charge.
Latest figures show 38% of people automatically entitled to a blue badge hold one.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think lose pip you lose blue badge , car tax ( certain elements) , housing benefit/ council tax, carers. I also believe people on pip are not on unemployed register so that will be growing.
— roger07 yid (@germann_ro) March 24, 2025
What is PIP awarded for?
The most common conditions among the 3.66 million claimants in England and Wales entitled to personal independence payments as of January 31 2025 were
- psychiatric disorders (1.4 million claimants)
- general musculoskeletal disease (691,000)
- neurological disease (467,000)
- specific musculoskeletal disease (437,000)
Disabling conditions involving psychiatric disorders accounted for 38.4% of claimants in January 2025, up from 35.0% five years earlier in January 2020, while general musculoskeletal disease accounted for 18.9%, down from 20.6%, and neurological disease accounted for 12.8%, down from 14.4%.
