What the Spring Statement means for the RAF Family
RAF Benevolent Fund Welfare Benefits Advisor, Jen Kelly, outlines some of the key welfare benefit changes announced in the Spring Statement, which may affect the RAF Family.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – changing the eligibility rules from November 2026
PIP is the main working age benefit for people who have disabilities/health conditions regardless of whether they are in work or not. It has a daily living component and a mobility component. The government proposals are impacting the daily living component only and aim to restrict this benefit to the most severely disabled people.
From November 2026, to be awarded the daily living component of PIP, claimants will need to score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity, in addition to the current eligibility criteria of needing to score a minimum of eight points across all daily living activities.
This largely means that people currently getting this benefit due to needing prompting, supervision or aids to be able to manage activities safely may lose out; and it is estimated that thousands will lose this benefit.
These changes are expected to come into force for new claims from November 2026 and existing claims reviewed after this date. The government are consulting on how to support those claimants who lose their entitlement due to a review after November 2026.
Work Capability Assessment (WCA) – being abolished in 2028
The WCA in Universal Credit (UC) is for those people who are unable to work due to a disability/health condition. If the outcome of the WCA is that a claimant has a ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’ they get an increase in their UC entitlement of £97 per week (called the LCWRA Element).
The government proposals abolish the WCA in 2028. Instead, there will be a new, single assessment for both PIP and the UC Health Element (which will replace the LCWRA Element) based on the PIP daily living component assessment.
Universal Credit (UC) – changes in rates
The UC Standard Allowance (which all claimants receive) will increase from the current £92 per week to £106 per week by 2029/30. Note: This rate is for a single claimant aged 25+; rates will differ for those under 25 and for couples.
However, the LCWRA Element (which can be the outcome of a WCA – see above) will be frozen at its current rate of £97 per week until 2029/30, for those with existing claims. For new claims from April 2026, the LCWRA Element will be reduced to £50 per week and then frozen until 2029/30.
There are proposals to protect the income of those with the most severe lifelong conditions, with an additional UC element. There are no details yet of how eligibility will be decided or what the rate of this additional element will be.
New-Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and New-Style Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) – replaced by Unemployment Insurance – date unknown
New Style JSA and New Style ESA are benefits based on a claimant’s NI contribution record, JSA for those looking for work, and ESA for those unable to work because of their disability/health condition. The government are consulting on replacing these benefits with a new single entitlement called Unemployment Insurance. It will be paid at the ESA rate (currently £138 per week) and will be time-limited; however, it has not yet been announced what this time limit will be.
It is a good idea to make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to before these changes take effect. Give us a call on 0300 102 1919 or email advice@rafbf.org.uk and we can run a benefit check for you.