Petition · past parliament
Don't merge the assessments for PIP and ESA
Closed
7,309 signatures
What the petition asks
In a speech on 5/3/19, Work & Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd announced plans to merge assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) from 2021. Seeing as PIP & ESA are different benefits with different purposes, we feel this would be extremely dangerous.
PIP is to cover the extra care & mobility costs arising from being disabled. It has nothing to do with employment status.
ESA is an income replacement for people unable to work due to illness.
Being different benefits with different purposes, they have very different eligibility criteria. Merging assessments would cause huge harm, especially for PIP claimants in work or planning to move into work.
UC should be a lesson about merging unrelated benefits.
Rudd's speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/closing-the-gap-between-intention-and-experience?utm_source=dwppressoffice&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=
ESA is an income replacement for people unable to work due to illness.
Being different benefits with different purposes, they have very different eligibility criteria. Merging assessments would cause huge harm, especially for PIP claimants in work or planning to move into work.
UC should be a lesson about merging unrelated benefits.
Rudd's speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/closing-the-gap-between-intention-and-experience?utm_source=dwppressoffice&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=
Timeline
| 19 Mar 2019 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 19 Sep 2019 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
7,309
Status
Closed
Opened
19 Mar 2019
Closed
19 Sep 2019
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.