The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has forecasted that changes to the eligibility rules for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) could result in around 370,000 current recipients losing their benefits upon reassessment in the financial year 2029/30.
Additionally, the impact assessment predicts a scenario where approximately 430,000 potential PIP claimants may be ineligible once the changes are implemented, each facing an average annual loss of £4,500.
These policy alterations are anticipated to reduce the overall PIP caseload by 400,000 by the year 2029/30. However, despite these reductions, the total number of PIP beneficiaries is expected to see significant growth over the next five years, with an increase of over 750,000 (24%).
Latest data from the DWP reveals that as of the end of January, there were 3.7 million PIP claimants across Great Britain. Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has previously highlighted that over 1,000 PIP claims are being approved daily, emphasising the need for welfare reforms to ensure future sustainability, reports the Daily Record.
Pending parliamentary approval, the proposed changes are set to come into effect in November 2026. The reforms also suggest an increase in face-to-face assessments, which are currently mostly conducted remotely via phone, video call, or paper-based methods.
There is good news for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients, as the government announces payments will not be frozen and will rise with inflation come September. Mobility component claimants can breathe a sigh of relief too, as no changes are on the horizon for them.
But in a bid to streamline claimants, the DWP has an eye on revising the scoring for PIP’s daily living section within their health questionnaire (PIP 2 evidence form). Currently, the daily living component nets claimants between £290.60 and £434.20 every four weeks – figures set to climb to £295.60 and £441.60 for the financial year 2025/26.
Future applicants beware: the UK Government is bringing in tougher rules for the daily living part, demanding a minimum score threshold for the aid needed with day-to-day tasks.
The ten-question daily living health survey, a key part of PIP claims, is fully detailed – descriptors, scores and all – on the Citizens Advice website.
Just last month, Ms Kendall announced to parliament: “We will legislate for a change in PIP so that people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP from November 2026. That will not affect the mobility component of PIP and relates only to the daily living element.
“We will legislate for a change in PIP so that people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP from November 2026. That will not affect the mobility component of PIP and relates only to the daily living element.”
The UK Government has made it clear that the new rules will have a significant impact, saying it “means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future”.
Under the revised system, someone racking up four points in one aspect of daily living but lower scores elsewhere could still bag the lower daily living component of PIP, provided their total hits eight or more. Twelve points or more would secure them the higher daily living award. Meanwhile, individuals scoring under four points across all ten daily living activities will be out of luck for any daily living payment.
Ms Kendall declared: “Alongside that, we will launch a review of the PIP assessment, led by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms MP), in close consultation with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts, so that we can ensure that PIP and the assessment process are fit for purpose now and into the future.”
The Government’s upcoming shake-up is expected to slash over £5 billion from the budget by the fiscal year 2029/30. Authorities have reiterated that the impending adjustments “means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future”.
The public is encouraged to voice their opinions on the proposed changes to PIP and the broader benefits system via the UK Government’s consultation, which can be accessed on GOV.UK here.
Citizens Advice explains that to qualify for the daily living component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that restricts your ability to carry out some or all of the activities listed below. The maximum number of PIP points that can be allocated for that question is indicated.
Daily living activity:
After answering all the daily living activity questions:
After answering all the mobility activity questions:
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