DWP update shows PIP conditions most at risk of benefit cuts
A new DWP analysis has shown which conditions could be the most likely to have claimants who will not qualify under the new PIP eligibility criteria
New DWP analysis shows the conditions set to be most likely to have claimants who will not qualify under the new Personal Independence Payments changes. The PIP reforms are set to be implemented in November 2026.
With the current Department for Work and Pensions rules, applicants must score at least eight points across 10 questions in the daily living assessment to claim PIP. Under the proposed changes in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall's welfare reforms, claimants will also need to achieve a minimum of four points in any single question.
The latest DWP figures reveal how many current benefit recipients would not meet this requirement, categorised based on what condition they are claiming the benefit for. A total of 79% of people claiming for back pain scored fewer than four points in a single question during their assessment.
Similarly, 71% of individuals with chronic pain syndromes would not meet the new criteria. A total of 62% of people with cardiovascular diseases and 55% of those with respiratory diseases could also potentially lose their benefit, according to the Daily Record.
The other main condition groups and the number of claimants that do not meet the four-point requirement revealed in the DWP figures include:
Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 71%
Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 48%
All other conditions - 46%
Other neurological diseases - 36%
Cerebrovascular diseases - 34%
Cancer - 33%
Epilepsy - 30%
Other psychiatric disorders - 28%
Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 24%
Psychotic disorders - 23%
ADHD/ADD - 19%
Autism spectrum disorders - 6%
Learning disabilities - 3%
Arthritis - 6%
The 'all other conditions' category includes ailments that make up a small proportion of PIP claims. For example, visual diseases, skin disease, hearing disorders and autoimmune diseases.
Kendall's welfare reform will only impact the daily living component of PIP, officials say. The mobility element, which provides £29.20 for the standard rate and £77.05 for the enhanced rate, is expected to remain unchanged under the reforms.
The daily living component does offer higher weekly amounts, at £73.90 for the standard rate and £110.40 for the enhanced rate. Currently, to qualify for the standard rate you need to accumulate a total of eight points in the assessment, and 12 or more to receive the enhanced rate.
The assessment concentrates on how safely, effectively and quickly you can perform certain tasks, scoring you based on how much assistance or equipment you require to complete it. The 10 tasks and their maximum available points are as follows:
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
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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. 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