PIP claimants who face losing benefits under new DWP rules

Large numbers of people in Britain face losing benefits, according to bombshell Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates. Almost 370,000 existing claimants are likely to lose their daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) entitlement when their award is reassessed in the 2029-30 financial year, due to proposed eligibility rule changes.

Furthermore, the impact assessment published in March suggests that an additional 430,000 future claimants will be denied disability benefits once the reforms take effect. That would result in an average annual loss of £4,500.

In response to a query from Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins, minister for social security and disability Sir Stephen Timms shared the findings of an analysis conducted by the DWP. The analysis focused on PIP claimants with 18 of the most prevalent disabling conditions, which account for a significant proportion of PIP caseloads, and examined those who failed to score four points in at least one daily living activity.

Sir Stephen stated: "A breakdown of the impact of the reforms on disability overall has been published as part of an Equality Analysis of the Spring Statement package of measures.

"Data on the health conditions of Universal Credit claimants being placed in the LCWRA has been published and will continue to be taken into account in the future programme of analysis."

He continued: "Analysis of those who do not score four points in at least one daily living activity for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has now been undertaken," reports the Daily Record.

He highlighted that the findings "shows the volume of claimants with the 18 most common disabling conditions in receipt of the PIP daily living component in January 2025, as well as the volume and proportion of these claimants who were awarded less than four points in all 10 daily living activities."

DWP's detailed breakdown reveals that while many sufferers manage with lesser awards, a significant chunk are scoring under four points for daily living tasks.

DWP notes clarify that the health condition category relies on the primary health condition recorded on the PIP system as of the latest assessment, acknowledging the presence of multiple conditions but only analysing the primary one.

The list beneath details the health conditions associated with PIP, tallying both the number of people receiving the PIP daily living component and those awarded fewer than four points across all daily living activities as of January 2025.

• Back Pain - 194,000 claimants, 154,000 (79%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Arthritis - 279,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Other Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 136,000 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Chronic Pain Syndromes - 173,00 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Cardiovascular Diseases - 61,000 claimants, 38,000 (62%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Respiratory Diseases - 83,000 claimants, 45,000 (55%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 80,000 claimants, 38,000 (48%) scored fewer than 4 points
• All Other Conditions - 272,000 claimants, 126,000 (46%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Other Neurological Diseases - 97,000 claimants,35,000 (36%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Cerebrovascular Diseases - 56,000 claimants, 19,000 (34%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Cancer - 70,000 claimants, 23,000 (33%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Epilepsy - 36,000 claimants, 11,000 (30%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Other Psychiatric Disorders - 90,000 claimants, 25,000 (28%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 47,000 claimants, 11,000 (24%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Psychotic Disorders - 112,000 claimants, 26,000 (23%) scored fewer than 4 points
• ADHD / ADD - 75,000 claimants, 14,000 (19%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Autistic Spectrum Disorders - 206,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored fewer than 4 points
• Learning Disabilities - 188,000 claimants, 7,000 (3%) scored fewer 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

The DWP will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks.

For each task, the DWP will look at:

• whether you can do it safely
• how long it takes you
• how often your condition affects this activity
• whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

Your ability to carry out each activity is measured against a list of standard statements describing what you can or cannot do.

These are known as the descriptors. The health professional will advise the DWP which descriptor applies to you for each activity.

The Citizen’s Advice website has a whole section dedicated to this along with a downloadable guide to all the points awarded for each response - you can view this here. An example they use is there are six descriptors for ‘Dressing and undressing’, ranging from ‘Can dress and undress unaided’ to ‘Cannot dress or undress at all’.

Each descriptor carries a points score ranging from 0 to 12.

Your ability to carry out the daily living activities and the mobility activities will be assessed as if you were wearing or using any aids or appliances it would be reasonable for you to use.

This applies whether or not you normally use those aids or appliances. However, if you use or need aids and appliances, this can help you to score more points - find out more here.

Citizens Advice explains: “An aid is any item which improves, provides or replaces impaired physical or mental function. It doesn’t have to be specially designed as a disability aid. Examples include a stool you need to sit on when cooking, or a walking stick to help you stand.”

Citizens Advice explains to get the daily living component of PIP, you must have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability to carry out some or all of the activities below.

The maximum amount of PIP points that can be awarded for that question are shown.

Daily living activity:

• Preparing food - 8
• Taking medication - 10
• Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition - 8
• Washing and bathing - 8
• Managing toilet needs or incontinence - 8
• Dressing and undressing - 8
• Communicating verbally - 12
• Reading and understanding symbols and words - 8
• Engaging with other people face to face - 8
• Making budgeting decisions - 6

After answering all the daily living activity questions:

• If you get between 8 and 11 points in total - you will be awarded the standard rate of PIP
• If you get at least 12 points in total - you will be awarded the enhanced rate of PIP

After answering all the mobility activity questions:

• If you get between 8 and 11 points in total - you will be awarded the standard rate of PIP
• If you get at least 12 points in total - you will be awarded the enhanced rate of PIP

The latest DWP figures show that at the end of January there were 3.7 million PIP claimants across Great Britain. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously said more than 1,000 PIP claims are being awarded per day, making the argument for welfare reforms to ensure the system is sustainable for the future.

The proposed changes will come into force in November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. Reforms also include increasing the number of face-to-face assessments. At present, most are being conducted remotely over the phone, by video call, or paper-based.

However, there will be no freeze on PIP payments, which will continue to be non-means-tested, and rise in-line with the September inflation rate. There will be no changes to the mobility component.

You can complete the UK Government's consultation on proposed changes to PIP and the benefits system on GOV.UK here.