A coalition of over 30 prominent charities has called upon the UK government to amend the current benefit assessment process for individuals with terminal or life-limiting illnesses. Convened by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie, these organisations argue that the existing system is not only inadequate but also causes undue distress to some of the most vulnerable members of society. The group is advocating for a streamlined approach that would allow claimants to receive permanent, lifetime awards for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), thereby alleviating the need for repetitive and troubling reassessments.
A Flawed System for Vulnerable Claimants
The appeal to the government comes as Sir Stephen Timms, the disability minister, leads a review into PIP, a benefit currently claimed by nearly four million individuals. The review, which is set to conclude its call for evidence this week, follows a significant backlash from Labour MPs last July, who expressed concerns over proposed cuts to PIP funding through changes in eligibility criteria.
Under the present framework, individuals diagnosed with terminal illnesses, as determined by a medical professional, are eligible for a higher tier of PIP for the remainder of their lives, provided they are expected to live for less than 12 months. However, this provision only applies to a limited set of circumstances, and claimants may still be reassessed after three years—even if their condition is progressive and life-limiting.
The coalition of charities, which includes notable organisations such as Amnesty International and Age UK, has highlighted that this policy is profoundly inadequate. They are advocating for a system that would expedite access to lifetime awards for all individuals facing terminal or severe health conditions, similar to measures already implemented in Scotland.
Distress for Claimants
Statistics reveal a troubling trend: from February 2025 to 2026, approximately 38 per cent of claimants with Parkinson’s disease, 16 per cent with dementia, and 9 per cent with motor neurone disease received fixed-term awards despite the progressive nature of their illnesses. Alarmingly, only 2 per cent of these awards were amended following a reassessment, leading to unnecessary financial strain on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which incurs costs of £282 for each assessment.
Becca Stacey, Marie Curie’s senior policy manager for financial security, has expressed her concern, stating, “Too many people living with terminal illness and progressive, life-limiting conditions are being forced to prove just how unwell they are,
