Certain people who get a particular government benefit appear could continue receiving support despite impending alterations. The qualification conditions for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are anticipated to change in 2026.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has suggested that the forthcoming amendments to PIP in the coming year will offer crucial assistance particularly to two distinct categories of recipients. As reported by the Daily Record, Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms remarked that going forward, PIP will focus on “those with the greatest needs, who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them”.
However, he pointed out that due to the scheduled modifications in eligibility regulations for next November – necessitating claimants to secure four points in a minimum of one out of the ten daily living tasks to be eligible for PIP – individuals with less severe necessities may see an end to their monthly payment of either £295.60 or £441.60.
The comments by Sir Stephen were provided in a written response to Labour MP Noah Law’s question asking if the Department was considering “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”.
Sir Stephen has countered with the point that PIP is a vital, non-income-based support for disabled individuals and those with health conditions, whether employed or not.
He noted: “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 clarify: “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.
“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 continued: “Our intention is that this change will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.”
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has estimated that changes to the eligibility rules for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) could result in 370,000 current claimants losing their entitlement when their award is reviewed during the 2029/30 financial year.
An impact assessment released in March suggests that 430,000 future PIP claimants will not qualify for the disability benefit once the reforms are implemented, leading to an average annual loss of £4,500 each.
The DWP conducted 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 chosen as they represent the largest proportions of PIP caseloads.
Notes on the DWP’s analysis indicate that 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 list below outlines PIP health conditions, the number of comments received regarding the PIP daily living component, and the number of claimants awarded less 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
- Arthritis – 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
- Chronic Pain Syndromes – 173,00 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored less than 4 points
- Cardiovascular Diseases – 61,000 claimants, 38,000 (62%) scored less than 4 points
- Respiratory Diseases – 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
- All Other Conditions – 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
- Cerebrovascular Diseases – 56,000 claimants, 19,000 (34%) scored less than 4 points
- Cancer – 70,000 claimants, 23,000 (33%) scored less than 4 points
- Epilepsy – 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
- Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases – 47,000 claimants, 11,000 (24%) scored less than 4 points
- Psychotic Disorders – 112,000 claimants, 26,000 (23%) scored less than 4 points
- ADHD / ADD – 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
- Learning Disabilities – 188,000 claimants, 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.
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.
According to the most recent DWP figures, there were 3.7 million PIP claimants across Great Britain at the end of January. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously highlighted that over 1,000 PIP claims are being granted daily, emphasising the necessity for welfare reforms to maintain the system’s viability.
Subject to parliamentary consent, the proposed amendments are scheduled to be enforced in November 2026. The suggested modifications also include an increase in the number of face-to-face assessments. At present, most are conducted remotely through phone calls, video calls, or paper-based procedures.
However, there will be no cessation of PIP payments, which will continue to be non-means-tested and will rise in accordance with the inflation rate in September. There will be no changes to the mobility component.
You can contribute to the UK Government’s consultation on the proposed alterations to PIP and the benefits system on the GOV.UK website here. The consultation period concludes on June 30, 2025.
