A mum who feared her disabled son would lose almost £6,000 a year in benefits has hailed the government abandoning plans to overhaul disability payments as great news.

Vicki Adams, from Ashford, previously said she was “horrified” by proposals to reform Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – a benefit awarded to people with long-term health conditions or disabilities who need help with daily tasks.

But in a dramatic u-turn, Labour has confirmed it has scrapped the most controversial aspect of the plans, which would have raised the threshold needed to qualify for the “daily living” component of the benefit from 2026/27.

It means her 17-year-old son Lukas Kidney – who was at risk of losing more than £110 a week – will now continue to receive the support he depends on to live independently.

However, new claimants will still have to meet the stricter criteria.

Reacting to the news, Ms Adams told KentOnline: “It is, of course, great news for people like Lukas, but I worry for people who become newly disabled in the future, as new claimants may still have to jump through those hoops.

“However, little by little, it's a huge win for people today.”

Lukas was born with Hecht-Scott syndrome – a condition so rare it affects just 60 people worldwide – leaving him with two missing fingers on one hand and a shortened and bowed leg he chose to have amputated at 14 after years of painful surgeries. He also has autism.

Now walking with a prosthetic, Lukas continues to struggle with pain, fatigue, overheating and limited mobility. He cannot use crutches due to the structure of his hands and is unable to cook safely alone.

Under PIP’s daily living component, he receives £110.40 a week to help cover the additional costs of his condition, such as specialist equipment, travel to hospital appointments, and clothing worn out by his prosthetic.

Under the scrapped proposals, claimants would have needed to score at least four points in a single category – such as preparing food or dressing – to qualify.

Lukas, who was last assessed at 16, received a maximum of three points per area, meaning he would have been excluded unless his condition worsened.

Ms Adams said the proposed change felt like moving the goalposts for families already struggling.

“It was utterly ridiculous,” she explained.

“Nothing about the level of care my son requires changed. Nothing about the difficulties he faces changed.”

The government had hoped to save £5 billion through a series of benefit reforms, with changes to PIP expected to account for the lion’s share.

But fierce opposition from within Labour – including 126 of its own MPs – led Sir Keir Starmer to confirm last night that the policy will be dropped from the new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

Among those who had backed an amendment to block the plans were East Thanet MP Polly Billington and Folkestone MP Tony Vaughan, who argued the changes would disproportionately affect vulnerable children and adults and lacked formal consultation with disabled people.

The government’s own impact assessment warned the reforms risked pushing 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – into poverty.

A spokesperson for Number 10 said: “We have listened to MPs who support the principle of reform but are worried about the pace of change for those already supported by the system.

“This package will preserve the social security system for those who need it by putting it on a sustainable footing, provide dignity for those unable to work, supports those who can and reduce anxiety for those currently in the system.

“These important reforms are rooted in Labour values, and we want to get them right…”

“Our reforms are underpinned by Labour values and our determination to deliver the change the country voted for last year.”

In her letter, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “We recognise the proposed changes have been a source of uncertainty and anxiety.

“We will ensure that all of those currently receiving PIP will stay within the current system. The new eligibility requirements will be implemented from November 2026 for new claims only.

“Secondly, we will adjust the pathway of Universal Credit payment rates to make sure all existing recipients of the UC health element – and any new claimant meeting the severe conditions criteria – have their incomes fully protected in real terms.”

She said a ministerial review would ensure the benefit is “fair and fit for the future” and will be a “coproduction” with disabled people, organisations which represent them and MPs.

“These important reforms are rooted in Labour values, and we want to get them right,” she said.