Almost nine in ten Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims for the standard daily living element would not pass a proposed shake-up of how the disability benefit is assessed. Labour has announced plans to tighten the eligibility rules and point system for PIP.
PIP is a disability benefit that is awarded to people who need help with everyday tasks due to an illness, disability or mental health condition. You are scored on how your condition affects your life – rather than PIP being awarded just because you have a particular illness or disability.
There are two parts to PIP. The daily living rate is £73.90 a week if you’re awarded the standard rate, while the higher rate is £110.40 a week. There is also the mobility rate, which is £29.20 a week for the standard rate, and £77.05 a week for the higher rate. You can be entitled to both the daily living and mobility parts of PIP.
The changes being introduced will affect the daily living part of PIP and the scoring used to determine whether someone is eligible for this component. To get the standard rate of the daily living part of PIP, you need between eight and 11 points. If you score 12 points or more, you are eligible for the higher daily living rate.
But under changes being put forward, you would also need a minimum of four points in at least one activity to get the daily living part of PIP from November 2026. It means those who qualify for PIP by scoring lower points across a range of tasks would no longer be eligible for the daily living part of PIP.
For example, you would have to show greater difficulty when completing some everyday activities, such as washing, eating and getting dressed. Now, a new Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by Benefits and Work has revealed 1,116,000 standard daily living claims would get fewer than four points in all activities, and the same goes for 209,000 higher rate daily living claims.
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It means these people would no longer qualify for the daily living part of PIP under the new proposals. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has estimated that around 800,000 people would no longer be eligible by 2029/30. The Mirror has contacted the DWP for comment.
The assessment for the mobility part of PIP is not changing. If you’re terminally ill, you normally get PIP automatically without having an assessment. PIP is available if you are over the age of 16 but under state pension age.
If you claim PIP and reach state pension age, your claim will normally continue. You may be able to make a new claim at state pension age if you were eligible for PIP in the last 12 months.
PIP is typically awarded for a set time – normally between nine months to ten years – and then has to be reviewed. Your award of PIP might change if your health gets better, or if your condition gets worse.
You need to let the DWP know if your health or condition has changed. If you are awarded PIP under the special rules for terminal illness, your award will be for three years before it is then reviewed.
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