Disability benefit reform is hitting older people hard – here’s the data

In its Pathways to Work report, the Work and Pensions Select Committee raised concerns about the impact of proposed benefit changes on older people:

“We put it to the Minister that the changes to PIP eligibility and UC would disproportionately affect older people, despite that group being less amenable to incentives to work. He said he had not seen any assessment ‘along those lines’ and that the Government would be offering employment support to everyone, no matter their age.”

But there is clear evidence that older people are likely to be significantly affected.

Older people are more likely to claim PIP. As of early 2025, around 304,000 people aged 60 to 64 were claiming PIP, compared to around 101,000 aged 25 to 29. Conditions such as arthritis, back pain and chronic fatigue, which are more common in later working life, are among the conditions most likely to be affected by the proposed four-point eligibility threshold for the Daily Living component.

Around 70% of those at risk of losing PIP under the new criteria are aged 50 or above. Of those, approximately 660,000 are aged over 60. These figures were derived from a Freedom of Information request to the DWP…

The proposed changes to Universal Credit will also affect older claimants. From 2026, new claimants will receive only half the existing health element, with this reduced amount frozen until at least 2030. This will impact many people in their 50s and 60s, who are more likely to begin new claims due to long-term health conditions or caring responsibilities.

And, it’s harder for older people to return to work once out. Health conditions, caring responsibilities, and employer reluctance to hire or retain older workers all limit older people’s opportunities. While employment support may be available, these factors will reduce the effectiveness of incentives for this age group.

Disabled households could lose an average of £400 a year by 2029/30 as a result of these changes and several hundred thousand people could be pushed into poverty. Many of those affected will be older and already face constraints in the labour market.

The Minister told the Committee they had not seen any assessment suggesting older people would be disproportionately affected. The data suggests otherwise.