People on PIP most at risk of losing payments under new DWP welfare reforms
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that proposed eligibility rule changes to the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will result in 370,000 existing claimants losing their entitlement when their award is reviewed during the 2029/30 financial year.
The impact assessment, published in March, also estimates that 430,000 future PIP claimants will not qualify for the disability benefit once the reforms come into force, with an average loss of £4,500 each year.
The DWP has now conducted analysis of PIP claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity in 18 of the most common disabling conditions. These conditions have been chosen as they make up the highest proportions of PIP caseloads.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, shared the analysis findings in a written response to Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins.
Sir Stephen said: 'A breakdown of the impact of the reforms on disability overall has been published as part of an Equality Analysis of the Spring Statement package of measures
'Data on the health conditions of Universal Credit claimants being placed in the LCWRA has been published and will continue to be taken into account in the future programme of analysis.'
The DWP Minister continued: 'Analysis of those who do not score four points in at least one daily living activity for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has now been undertaken.'
He added that the table of findings 'shows the volume of claimants with the 18 most common disabling conditions in receipt of the PIP daily living component in January 2025, as well as the volume and proportion of these claimants who were awarded less than four points in all 10 daily living activities.'
DWP analysis of current daily living awards
DWP notes on the analysis state that the health condition category is based on primary health condition as recorded on the PIP Computer System at time of latest assessment. Many claimants have multiple health conditions but only primary condition is available for analysis.
The list below shows PIP health conditions, the number of comments in receipt of PIP daily living component and the number of claimants awarded less than four points in all daily living activities at the end of January 2025.
Back Pain - 194,000 claimants, 154,000 (79%) scored less than 4 points
Arthritis - 279,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored less than 4 points
Other Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 136,000 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored less than 4 points
Chronic Pain Syndromes - 173,00 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored less than 4 points
Cardiovascular Diseases - 61,000 claimants, 38,000 (62%) scored less than 4 points
Respiratory Diseases - 83,000 claimants, 45,000 (55%) scored less than 4 points
Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 80,000 claimants, 38,000 (48%) scored less than 4 points
All Other Conditions - 272,000 claimants, 126,000 (46%) scored less than 4 points
Other Neurological Diseases - 97,000 claimants,35,000 (36%) scored less than 4 points
Cerebrovascular Diseases - 56,000 claimants, 19,000 (34%) scored less than 4 points
Cancer - 70,000 claimants, 23,000 (33%) scored less than 4 points
Epilepsy - 36,000 claimants, 11,000 (30%) scored less than 4 points
Other Psychiatric Disorders - 90,000 claimants, 25,000 (28%) scored less than 4 points
Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 47,000 claimants, 11,000 (24%) scored less than 4 points
Psychotic Disorders - 112,000 claimants, 26,000 (23%) scored less than 4 points
ADHD / ADD - 75,000 claimants, 14,000 (19%) scored less than 4 points
Autistic Spectrum Disorders - 206,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored less than 4 points
Learning Disabilities - 188,000claimants, 7,000 (3%) scored less than 4 points
Other disabling condition groups which cover smaller proportions of the PIP caseload are covered in the 'Other Conditions' category.
This includes:
Visual Diseases
Other General Musculoskeletal Diseases
Endocrine Diseases
Hearing Disorders
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Genitourinary Diseases
Skin Diseases
Autoimmune Diseases (Connective Tissue Disorders)
Infectious Diseases
Diseases of the Liver, Gallbladder or Biliary Tract
Haematological Diseases
Metabolic Diseases
Multisystem and Extremes of Age
Diseases of the Immune System
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety disorders - Other / type not known
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Stress reaction disorders - Other / type not known
Generalised anxiety disorder
Phobia - Specific
Phobia - Social
Agoraphobia
Panic disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Anxiety and depressive disorders - mixed
Conversion disorder (hysteria)
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Dissociative disorders - Other / type not known
Somatoform disorders - Other / type not known
Depressive disorder
Bipolar affective disorder (Hypomania / Mania)
Mood disorders - Other / type not known
Daily living component for PIP
You might get the daily living component of PIP if you need help with:
eating, drinking or preparing food
washing, bathing, using the toilet, managing incontinence
dressing and undressing
talking, listening, reading and understanding
managing your medicines or treatments
making decisions about money
mixing with other people
How difficulty with tasks is assessed
The DWP will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks.
For each task, the DWP will look at:
whether you can do it safely
how long it takes you
how often your condition affects this activity
whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment
The descriptors
Your ability to carry out each activity is measured against a list of standard statements describing what you can or cannot do.
These are known as the descriptors. The health professional will advise the DWP which descriptor applies to you for each activity.
The Citizen's Advice website has a whole section dedicated to this along with a downloadable guide to all the points awarded for each response - you can view this here. An example they use is there are six descriptors for 'Dressing and undressing', ranging from 'Can dress and undress unaided' to 'Cannot dress or undress at all'.
Each descriptor carries a points score ranging from 0 to 12.
Using aids or appliances
Your ability to carry out the daily living activities and the mobility activities will be assessed as if you were wearing or using any aids or appliances it would be reasonable for you to use.
This applies whether or not you normally use those aids or appliances. However, if you use or need aids and appliances, this can help you to score more points - find out more here.
Citizens Advice explains: 'An aid is any item which improves, provides or replaces impaired physical or mental function. It doesn't have to be specially designed as a disability aid. Examples include a stool you need to sit on when cooking, or a walking stick to help you stand.'
Daily living scores
Citizens Advice explains to get the daily living component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of the activities below.
The maximum amount of PIP points that can be awarded for that question are shown.
Daily living activity:
Preparing food - 8
Taking medication - 10
Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition - 8
Washing and bathing - 8
Managing toilet needs or incontinence - 8
Dressing and undressing - 8
Communicating verbally - 12
Reading and understanding symbols and words - 8
Engaging with other people face to face - 8
Making budgeting decisions - 6
Points and payment rates
After answering all the daily living activity questions:
If you get between 8 and 11 points in total - you will be awarded the standard rate of PIP
If you get at least 12 points in total - you will be awarded the enhanced rate of PIP
After answering all the mobility activity questions:
If you get between 8 and 11 points in total - you will be awarded the standard rate of PIP
If you get at least 12 points in total - you will be awarded the enhanced rate of PIP
The latest DWP figures show that at the end of January there were 3.7 million PIP claimants across Great Britain.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously said more than 1,000 PIP claims are being awarded per day, making the argument for welfare reforms to ensure the system is sustainable for the future.
The proposed changes will come into force in November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.
Reforms also include increasing the number of face-to-face assessments. At present, most are being conducted remotely over the phone, by video call, or paper-based.
However, there will be no freeze on PIP payments, which will continue to be non-means-tested, and rise in-line with the September inflation rate.
There will be no changes to the mobility component.
You can complete the UK Government's consultation on proposed changes to PIP and the benefits system on GOV.UK here.
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