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A MINISTER HAS EXPLAINED THAT THE UPCOMING CHANGES TO DISABILITY BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY WILL NOT APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD 10:39, 22 May 2025Updated 10:43, 22 May 2025 The Department for Work and
Pensions has reassured PIP claimants with specific birth dates that they will not be affected by the upcoming benefit cuts. From November 2026, people will need at least one score of four in
the activities assessed for the daily living element of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), currently worth between £3,777.80 and £5,644.60 a year. This will apply to people whose existing
claim is being reviewed at the end of its award period and to any new applicants for the disability benefit. However, a DWP minister said this week that some recipients won't be
affected. READ MORE: Connor Naismith, Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, asked the DWP "whether proposed changes to PIP will include people of pensionable age." Article continues
below Sir Stephen Timms, DWP Minister for Social Security and Disability, said in response: "We have committed to introduce a new requirement that, in addition to the existing
eligibility criteria, claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment.
"Our intention is that – subject to parliamentary approval – the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, only if they score fewer than 4 points in one
category in their reassessment by a trained assessor or healthcare professional. "In keeping with existing policy, people over State Pension age are not routinely fully reviewed and
will not be affected by these changes." Older people can continue receiving PIP if they were getting it before they reached State Pension age. Once they are pensioners, a new claim
cannot be made for PIP and they would have to apply for Attendance Allowance instead. The current State Pension age is 66, applying to those born between October 6, 1954, and April 5, 1960.
The State Pension age is set to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028 and will be phased in rather than being based on birthdays. This will mean that people born between April 6, 1960, and March
5, 1961, will reach their State Pension age at 66 years and a gradually increasing number of additional months. Anyone who is on PIP and reaches their designated State Pension age before
November 2026 should therefore be exempt from the benefit reforms. STATE PENSION AGE RISE TO 67: KEY DATES WHEN PEOPLE CAN CLAIM THEIR STATE PENSION * Born April 6, 1960-May 5, 1960: 66
years and 1 month * Born May 6, 1960-June 5, 1960: 66 years and 2 months * Born June 6, 1960-July 5, 1960: 66 years and 3 months * Born July 6, 1960-August 5, 1960: 66 years and 4 month.
Note that a person born on July 31, 1960 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 4 months on November 30, 2026. * Born August 6, 1960-September 5, 1960: 66 years and 5 months * Born
September 6, 1960-October 5, 1960: 66 years and 6 months * Born October 6, 1960-November 5, 1960: 66 years and 7 months * Born November 6, 1960-December 5, 1960: 66 years and 8 months * Born
December 6, 1960-January 5, 1961: 66 years and 9 months. But note that a person born on December 31, 1960 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 9 months on September 30, 2027. *
Born January 6, 1961-February 5, 1961: 66 years and 10 months. But note that a person born on January 31, 1961 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 10 months on November 30, 2027.
* Born February 6, 1961-March 5, 1961: 66 years and 11 months * Born March 6, 1961-April 5, 1977: 67. For people born after April 5, 1969 but before April 6, 1977, under the Pensions Act
2007, State Pension age was already 67. Article continues below In addition, Sir Stephen had earlier said that any PIP claimants with a terminal illness are also exempt from cuts because
they are automatically awarded the enhanced rate of the daily living element. There are currently 32,600 people in this category. Join our dedicated BirminghamLive WhatsApp community for the
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