Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment for (a) carers and (b) children.

We have set out plans to introduce a new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) so that people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity in PIP to be eligible for the daily living component.

PIP is open to new claims from the age of 16 and over. In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we consult on whether this age should be raised to 18 or higher. The changes do not therefore apply to children. The PIP eligibility criteria apply directly to people with long-term health conditions and disabilities.