Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced a raft of proposed amendments to the welfare system, encompassing Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit and incapacity benefits. Pending parliamentary approval, these changes are slated for implementation in November 2026.
The frequency of in-person assessments is set to increase, as most are currently carried out remotely via phone, video call or paper-based methods. There will be no halt on PIP payments, no replacement of cash payments with vouchers, and no changes to eligibility for the mobility component.
However, Ms Kendall revealed that the points scoring system for the daily living element – valued between £290.60 and £434.20 every four-week pay period – will alter for both new and existing claimants. The UK Government intends to introduce a new eligibility requirement for a minimum score of at least four points relating to how much assistance the individual requires with everyday tasks for the daily living element of the benefit, reports the Daily Record.
The daily living health questionnaire (PIP 2 evidence form), which constitutes the main part of a PIP application, comprises 10 questions. The complete set of questions and descriptors, along with the points awarded by answer on the current form, can be accessed on the Citizens Advice website.
Ms Kendall told MPs on Tuesday of impending changes, stating: “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 says it means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future.
Breaking it down, an individual will require at least 4 points in one of the daily living activities, alongside additional points in other areas, to be eligible for the lower tier of daily living aid under PIP—as long as their total score is 8 or more. To qualify for the higher amount, they must accumulate at least 12 points.
Those who do not meet the threshold of 4 points in any of the 10 assessed areas will no longer be entitled to this benefit.
Additionally, Ms Kendall announced further reforms: “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.”
These reforms are expected to result in savings of over £5 billion by 2029/30, with definitive costings set to be unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves during the Spring Statement on March 26.
The Government has confirmed a policy shift “means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future”. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said it’s difficult to predict the impact of this change “as the way claimants approach the assessment is likely to change in response”.
However, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests that as many as 1.2 million claimants could be affected. The IFS pointed out that previous governments attempting similar reforms “have found that they have saved much less than hoped”.
The UK Government has announced that some individuals will lose their PIP entitlement as the qualification process becomes stricter, focusing the disability benefit on “those with higher needs”. You can take part in the UK Government’s consultation on proposed changes to PIP and the benefits system on GOV.UK.
According to the most recent figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), as of the end of January, around 3.7 million people were claiming PIP and receiving between £114.8 and £737.20 every four weeks. The DWP will assess your difficulty with daily living and mobility tasks for the daily living component of PIP.
PIP payment rates
A successful PIP claim is currently valued between £28.70 and £184.30 per week in additional financial support. Given that the benefit is paid every four weeks, this equates to between £114.80 and £737.20 per payment cycle.
You will receive the following weekly amounts, based on your award level:
Daily Living Component
- Enhanced: £108.55 (rising to £110.40 in April)
- Standard: £72.65 (rising to £73.90 in April)
Mobility Component
- Enhanced: £75.75 (rising to £77.05 in April)
- Standard: £28.70 (rising to £29.20 in April)
For more information about PIP, visit GOV.UK here.
