Map shows where benefits claimants are most likely to lose their PIP payments

Yahoo

2 days ago

MPs are due to vote later this month on the government's controversial plans to make £5bn of benefits cuts.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing the prospect of a backbench rebellion over the proposals, which include controversial plans to restrict the eligibility rules for people claiming PIP disability benefit.
The growing political row has shone a light on the scale of the cuts, which could impact some 800,000 disabled people claiming PIP by 2030, according to the department of work and pension's (DWP) own figures.
However, some think tanks believe at least another 100,000 people will be impacted by the cuts.
The DWP data reveals that the cuts are most likely to affect PIP claimants in Labour heartlands, with a swell of Labour backbenchers taking issue with the scale and severity of the welfare reforms. As a result, Starmer is reportedly considering considering 'tweaks' to the cuts to soften the impact and quell anger among his own MPs.
Yahoo News has already analysed the health conditions most at risk from the cuts (the people most likely to miss out are those who suffer from back pain).
We've now taken a look at the areas are where claimants are most likely to lose out on PIP payments.
From November 2026, those claiming the "daily living element" of PIP – which provides financial support for individuals who need help with everyday tasks and mobility – will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity (there are 10 categories for daily living and two for mobility) to continue to qualify for benefits support.
According to data released by the DWP, the PIP cuts will hit hardest in the north-west of England, where 208,157 claimants receiving the benefit currently score less than four points in a single activity.
London ranks the second-highest in the findings, with more than 162,000 claimants also receiving PIP without scoring the four point minimum needed for their claim to continue after 2026.
Perhaps surprisingly in the north east of England — which is known for experiencing alarmingly high child poverty rates — the cuts will impact the least recipients out of anywhere in England and Wales.
However, this may be because the area has a significant number of the most vulnerable disabled people, who have the highest needs and therefore would not necessarily have their payments cut.
While the scale of the PIP cuts are clearly far-reaching, our map indicates that the ten areas most affected by the government's PIP cuts are in Labour heartlands.
In fact, out of top 20 areas where claimants are set to miss out on PIP, 19 voted for Labour in the general election — with Clacton voting for Nigel Farage's Reform UK party.
Liverpool Walton tops the list of worst affected constituencies, with 20.3% PIP claimants in the area facing losing the benefit post-cuts.
The historically red area voted for MP Dan Carden in the 2024 general election, securing a thumping 30,520 majority.
Here's a list of the top 20 constituencies affected by the cuts, with the number of PIP claimants set to miss out:
Constituency
% of claimants who scored less than four points in all daily living activities
Total number of claimants who scored less than four points in all daily living activities
1.
Liverpool Walton
20.3
13,465
2.
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
19.9
11,888
3.
Blackpool South
19.6
13,802
4.
Aberafan Maesteg
19.2
10,989
5.
Easington
19
11,262
6.
Birkenhead
18.8
12,638
7.
Knowsley
18.3
11,285
8.
Rhondda and Ogmore
18.3
11,481
9.
Bootle
18.2
11,978
10.
Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
18.1
11,275
11.
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
17.1
12,247
12.
Liverpool West Derby
17.1
10,902
13.
Hartlepool
17
9,948
14.
Clwyd North
16.8
9,771
15.
Wallasey
16.6
9,942
16.
Swansea West
16.2
11,554
17.
Clacton
16.1
8,771
18.
Llanelli
16
9,195
19.
Barnsley South
15.9
10,685
29.
Neath and Swansea East
15.7
9,932
In the wake of Labour's chastening local election results in May, some have pointed the finger at the government's welfare cuts as one of the key drivers of discontent among the party's traditional voting base.
A backbench rebellion could spread to more than 100 MPs, some reports have suggested.
Peter Lamb, the Labour MP for Crawley, is one of those to have publicly criticised the cuts, saying in May he would be 'voting against anything which is going to restrict access to PIP further than it's currently restricted'.
Many Labour MPs across different wings of the party are 'deeply uncomfortable' with what ministers are planning, he said.
Homelessness charities recently added to the growing clamour of anger among campaigners, warning that the reforms "will increase the number of people at risk of becoming homeless for the first time".
An open letter co-ordinated by the St Mungo's homelessness charity and sent to the chancellor Rachel Reeves said the new proposals will 'push people further away from the labour market, increase homelessness and put excessive pressure on statutory services'.
The government has now said it is looking into increasing the eligibility threshold for winter fuel payments.
An impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – could fall into relative poverty as a result of the changes.
Data from the government shows that between October to December 2024, just over a fifth (21%) of households facing homelessness had some sort of physical ill health or disability.
A DWP spokesperson said: 'The majority of people who are currently getting PIP will continue to receive it. We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and that their income is protected.
'We have also announced a review of the PIP assessment, and we will be working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this.'