DWP to reform PIP payments next year – full list of those who will keep benefit
DWP to reform PIP payments next year – full list of those who will keep benefit
The DWP has provided a new update on the forthcoming changes to PIP, which will provide crucial financial support to two groups of claimants
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has signalled key changes to the personal independence payment (PIP) arriving next year, promising vital monetary aid for two specific groups of recipients.
Sir Stephen Timms, the UK Government minister for social security and disability, said the PIP adjustments were focusing on "those with the greatest needs, who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them". Yet he pointed out with concern that as a consequence of the qualifying rule alteration scheduled for next November – stipulating claimants must accumulate four points in at least one of the 10 daily living tasks to be eligible for PIP – "people with lower needs" will be stripped of either £295.60 or £441.60 in monthly support.
The remarks from Sir Stephen came in a written reply to an enquiry by Labour MP Noah Law, who asked if the DWP would "make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing people who accumulate points across multiple personal independence payment activities, but do not score four points in any single activity, to retain their entitlement." For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here
In response Sir Stephen said: "PIP is an important, non-means tested benefit for disabled people and people with health conditions – regardless of whether they are in or out of work.
"However the rate of increases in claims and expenditure is not sustainable and has outstripped the growth in disability prevalence. Changes are needed that will control the spend on the welfare bill while continuing to support those people with higher needs relating to their long-term health condition or disability."
He went on to say: "In our Pathways to Work Green Paper we announced that we will introduce a new eligibility requirement to ensure that only those who score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity will be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This requirement will need to be met in addition to the existing PIP eligibility criteria.
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"This will focus PIP more on those with the greatest needs, who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them. This means that people who have lower needs only in the daily living activities (scoring three or less for each activity) will no longer be eligible for the daily living component of PIP."
Sir Stephen further added: "Our intention is that this change will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026 subject to parliamentary approval."
The DWP estimates that proposed eligibility rule changes to the daily living component of PIP will result in 370,000 existing claimants losing their entitlement when their award is reviewed during the 2029-30 financial year.
An impact assessment published in March 2025 predicts that 430,000 future PIP claimants will not qualify for the disability benefit once reforms are implemented resulting in an average annual loss of £4,500 each.
The DWP has carried out an analysis of PIP claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity across 18 of the most common disabling conditions. These conditions were selected as they represent the largest proportions of PIP caseloads.
DWP analysis of current daily living awards
According to the DWP's notes on the analysis the health condition category is based on the primary health condition recorded on the PIP computer system at the time of the latest assessment. While many claimants have multiple health conditions only the primary condition is available for analysis.
The following list details PIP health conditions, the number of claimants receiving the PIP daily living component, and the number of claimants awarded fewer than four points in all daily living activities as of the end of January 2025.
Back Pain - 194,000 claimants, 154,000 (79%) scored less than 4 points
- 194,000 claimants, 154,000 (79%) scored less than 4 points Arthritis - 279,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored less than 4 points
- 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
- 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
- 173,00 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored less than 4 points Cardiovascular Diseases - 61,000 claimants, 38,000 (62%) scored less than 4 points
- 61,000 claimants, 38,000 (62%) scored less than 4 points Respiratory Diseases - 83,000 claimants, 45,000 (55%) scored less than 4 points
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 97,000 claimants,35,000 (36%) scored less than 4 points Cerebrovascular Diseases - 56,000 claimants, 19,000 (34%) scored less than 4 points
- 56,000 claimants, 19,000 (34%) scored less than 4 points Cancer - 70,000 claimants, 23,000 (33%) scored less than 4 points
- 70,000 claimants, 23,000 (33%) scored less than 4 points Epilepsy - 36,000 claimants, 11,000 (30%) scored less than 4 points
- 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
- 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
- 47,000 claimants, 11,000 (24%) scored less than 4 points Psychotic Disorders - 112,000 claimants, 26,000 (23%) scored less than 4 points
- 112,000 claimants, 26,000 (23%) scored less than 4 points ADHD / ADD - 75,000 claimants, 14,000 (19%) scored less than 4 points
- 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
- 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
The ability of the potential claimant to carry out each activity is measured compared to a list of standard statements describing what you can or cannot do and these are known as the descriptors.
Health professionals will advise the DWP which descriptor applies to the claimant for each activity.
The Citizens Advice website has a whole section dedicated to this along with a downloadable guide to all the points awarded for each response.. 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 zero to 12.
Using aids or appliances
Your ability to perform daily living exercises and mobility activities will be assessed as if you were using any aids or appliances that it would be reasonable for you to use.
This applies whether or not you typically use those aids or appliances. However using or needing aids and appliances can make you score more points.
According to Citizens Advice: "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 outlines that to qualify for the daily living component of PIP individuals must have a physical or mental health condition that restricts their ability to perform certain activities.
The maximum number of PIP points that can be awarded for each question is indicated.
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 responding to 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 responding to 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
According to the most recent DWP statistics, as of the end of January there were 3.7m PIP claimants across Great Britain.
Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has previously stated that more than 1,000 PIP claims are being granted daily, underscoring the need for welfare reforms to ensure future sustainability.
Subject to parliamentary approval the proposed changes will take effect in November 2026.
The reforms also propose an increase in face-to-face assessments. Currently most assessments are conducted remotely via phone, video call, or paper-based methods.
However, there will be no freeze on PIP payments which will remain non-means-tested and will increase in line with the September inflation rate. There will be no alterations to the mobility component.
You can participate in the UK Government's consultation on the proposed changes to PIP and the benefits system on GOV.UK here. The consultation period ends on June 30, 2025.
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