Major DWP PIP changes are due to come into force next November
Millions of people who receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can expect major changes to the disability benefits system from November 2026. PIP will continue to be non-means-tested, increase annually in line with inflation, remain tax-free and not affect the Benefit Cap.
The government also intends to lift the application age from 16 to 18 and ramp up the number of face-to-face assessments, which took a hit during the pandemic due to lockdown measures. However, the most substantial change will be in eligibility, primarily through an overhaul of the points scoring system for the daily living component.
If these proposed changes successfully make it into law, they will come into effect for new claimants from next November. This timeline will also apply to existing claimants, so the first step is to check your PIP award letter for the date of your next review.
This is essentially the expiry date for your current award, reports the Daily Record. If your review is scheduled before November 2026, and the DWP manages to clear the current backlog of pending PIP reviews, your review should be carried out and a new award decision made which, if successful, should carry you beyond that crucial date.
If your review date falls after November 2026, you’ll be subject to the proposed assessment changes and a revamp of the points system for the daily living component. To qualify for payment, you’ll need to score at least four points in one of the ten daily living questions – even if scoring two points in every question takes you beyond the award thresholds of eight (standard rate) and twelve (enhanced rate).
There are a number of tips people can employ to help protect PIP payments, and one of these involves hanging onto a certain document – the PIP 2 evidence form. When submitting your PIP claim online, you can save a copy of this form on your home computer or laptop for future reference.
However, if you’re filling out a paper-based form, make sure to photocopy the original document before sending it off. If you don’t already have a copy of the PIP 2 evidence form, the health questionnaire you completed prior to your assessment, ring the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 and request one.
Having this document will assist you with any future PIP reviews, or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) if you’re set to switch to the Social Security Scotland system this Spring. Not only can the form serve as a handy reminder of your initial responses to the daily living and mobility queries, but crucially, it can assist you in detailing how your condition impacts you currently.
This is particularly important if your circumstances have shifted and your health has deteriorated or other issues have cropped up. Those in receipt of PIP are also encouraged to keep a diary.
This doesn’t need to be a physical document, you can use your mobile phone or tablet to make a note of “bad days” and recording significant instances when something related to your condition occurs. Creating a specific note, with the time and date, where you can add things you might want to mention at a future PIP review, or just adding it to the calendar function.
This isn’t a task that needs to be done daily, just items that are relevant to how your condition affects you. This could include everyday tasks you struggled to safely complete alone, forgetting to take medication, or feeling down or exasperated due to your condition.
Keeping all medical appointments related to your condition is also crucial to ensure your records are current, and it may be beneficial to contact a charity that specialises in your condition, even if it’s just to ensure you’re not missing out on additional support.
You can have your say on the proposed DWP PIP changes here
