A new system of disability benefits has begun to take effect across England, Scotland and Wales.

Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) are replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) as part of the government's welfare reforms.

The government claims PIPs will target resources more effectively towards those who need it most.

But a charity warns that almost a fifth of claimants - 600,000 people - could eventually lose their benefits.

Since April, thousands of new claimants in the north of England have already applied for PIPs. Now, new claimants of working age in the rest of Britain will also have to apply for a PIP, rather than DLA.

Northern Ireland will join the system later.

Under DLA, most people filled in their own application forms, and did not have to re-apply, even if their health improved.

"Seventy-one percent would have indefinite awards, without regular checks," the disabilities minister, Esther McVeigh, told the BBC.

"So this is about targeting billions of pounds a year at the people who need it most."

Much talk on the radio this morning about how the government is introducing a regime of periodic re-testing, including for people who have incurable conditions. Somebody who has lost both legs is not likely to grow them back for example, so this basically a waste of money in a fair portion of cases. The cost of unnecessary retesting may even wipe out any savings the government is claiming to make.

Of course, it's all money in the pocket of ATOS/Capita, who aren't likely to object to being paid for easy work.

I can see where there's targetting to be needed. But agree that some people should be wholly excluded from repeat applications/assessments.

There are some who are eligible at the time but their circumstances change eg person who was disabled because of severe osteoarthritis then has curative surgery and is no longer disabled. There have been many anecdotes about patients complaining that they didn't realise they would lose their benefits because they've undergone a treatment that no longer makes them eligible for benefits. They now have to find work and don't want to, having had a cushy life on benefits. These need targetting.

Much talk on the radio this morning about how the government is introducing a regime of periodic re-testing, including for people who have incurable conditions. Somebody who has lost both legs is not likely to grow them back for example, so this basically a waste of money in a fair portion of cases.

Well someone who looses both legs may not be able to do anything just after it has happened but after physio / fitting good prosthetics etc they may well be able to live a normal life and so not need the same level of PIP (I assume its a scale depending on your condition)