370,000 to Lose PIP! Are You One of Them?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit that helps people in the UK with extra living costs due to a long-term illness or disability.

The government now plans to make big changes to who qualifies for this help, especially in the daily living section. These changes may affect hundreds of thousands of people.

What’s Changing in PIP?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared that starting from November 2026, new rules will be applied to PIP. These rules are still waiting for Parliament approval. If they are accepted:

• 370,000 people who currently receive PIP might lose their payments by 2029/30.
• 430,000 new applicants might not qualify at all.
• On average, each person losing out could miss around £4,500 every year.

These changes only affect the daily living part of PIP, not the mobility part.

Why Are the Changes Happening?

The government says too many people are now getting PIP, with over 1,000 new claims approved daily. They believe the system needs to be more targeted so that only those who truly need support get it. The goal is to make sure it remains affordable in the future.

Who Might Be Affected the Most?

The DWP has looked at the 18 most common health conditions of current claimants and checked how many scored fewer than 4 points in daily living tasks. If you score less than 4 across all tasks, under the new rules, you may not be eligible anymore.

Here’s a sample of the results:

• Back pain: 79% scored under 4
• Chronic pain: 71%
• Heart disease: 62%
• Lung problems: 55%
• Multiple sclerosis: 48%

Some other conditions had much lower numbers:

• Autism: 6%
• Learning disabilities: 3%

This means people with visible or severe disabilities may not be affected as much, but those with hidden or pain-related conditions might lose their support.

What Does the Daily Living Part Cover?

You may get this part of PIP if you need help with everyday tasks like:

• Cooking and eating
• Washing and going to the toilet
• Dressing
• Talking and understanding people
• Managing medicines or therapy
• Handling money
• Social interaction

How Is It Scored?

For each activity, points are given based on how much help you need. There are ten activities in total. Points range from 0 to 12.

• Score 8 to 11 points: you get the standard rate
• Score 12 or more points: you get the enhanced rate

A health professional will look at your condition and decide how many points you should get using a list of statements called “descriptors”.

Use of Aids and Help

Even if you use items like a walking stick, stool, or help from another person, the DWP will assess what you could do with that help, not just without it.

Other Key Details

• PIP payments will still go up each year based on September’s inflation.
• Payments will stay non-means-tested (your income and savings won’t affect them).
• There will be more face-to-face assessments instead of phone or paper reviews.
• The mobility part of PIP will not change.

What Should You Do?

If you think these changes may affect you, you can share your views through the UK Government’s consultation online. You can also visit the Citizen’s Advice website to understand how points are awarded and what support you can get.

The UK Government is planning changes to how PIP is given out. Starting in late 2026, the daily living component will have stricter rules. These changes could lead to over 800,000 people either losing their PIP or not qualifying in the first place.

Most affected will be those with hidden conditions like back pain or chronic pain. You can still give feedback on the changes through the official government website.

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