Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will make it harder to qualify for the daily living component of PIP
Anyone under state pension age could lose a vital safety net following changes to benefits, it has been reported.
Experts have warned that those in poor health could be left without a safety net if they are deemed ineligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) while still too young to claim their state pension.
The changes announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will make it harder to qualify for the daily living component of PIP.
The benefit currently supports 3.6 million people with long-term physical or mental health conditions.
Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp
Read more: Gtech knocks £100 off ‘phenomenal’ cordless vacuum ‘worthy of a six-star rating’
But under the new rules, applicants will need to score at least four points for a single activity, rather than qualifying through lower scores across multiple tasks.
It is hoped that the changes will help to save £5billion annually by 2030.
However, some experts say that it could have a negative effect on people across Britain.
David Sinclair, Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC), said: “A squeeze on ill-health benefits could mean increased numbers of people in their 60s are left with no access to a safety net – whether in the form of disability benefits or state pension payments – just when they need it most.
“In 2023/24, the state pension cost around £125 billion and will increase to an estimated £138bn this year.
“As our population ages, forecasts indicate that if we keep the state pension age at 66, total costs will continue to climb significantly.”
Hannah Karim, Lead Care Expert at Online care Finder Lottie, told GBNews: “We have seen a sharp rise in poverty in older generations, and today’s update is another blow.
“At Lottie, each day we hear thousands of families worrying about money when it comes to care.
“Feeling their future and level of care is in jeopardy because of the lack of support compared to rising care fees.”