PIP benefit cuts and conditions set to be most affected - including back pain - Liverpool Echo

PIP benefit cuts and conditions set to be most affected - including back painThe cuts could affect people with a number of conditions. New analysis from the DWP has broken down which

conditions could be most affectedCommentsNewsLinda Howard Money and Consumer Writer and Samantha Leathers05:55, 30 May 2025Thousands of people will become ineligible for their benefit due to

the change(Image: GETTY) New DWP analysis has broken down which conditions could be the most likely to have claimants who will not qualify under the new PIP eligibility criteria due to come

into effect in November 2026. Currently, people have to score at least eight points across 10 questions in the daily living assessment to claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Under the new rules proposed in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall’s welfare reforms, they will also now need to get a minimum of four points in any single question. The

new figures from the DWP show how many people currently claiming the benefit don’t meet this criteria.

‌ The leading category is for people claiming PIP for back pain. A total of 79% of claimants using this as their primary condition scored less than four points in a single question during

their assessment.

‌READ MORE: Some Nationwide customers to get £200 bonusesREAD MORE: Rule change for millions of UK drivers from June 10 Similarly, 71% of people with chronic pain syndromes did not meet the

new criteria either. A total of 62% of people with cardiovascular diseases and 55% of those with respiratory diseases also potentially face losing their benefit, according to the Daily

Record.

The other main condition groups and the amount of claimants that do not meet the four-point requirement that were revealed in the DWP figures include:

Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 71%Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 48%All other conditions - 46%Other neurological diseases - 36%Cerebrovascular diseases - 34%Cancer -

33%Epilepsy - 30%Other psychiatric disorders - 28%Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 24%Psychotic disorders - 23%ADHD/ADD - 19%Autism spectrum disorders - 6%Learning

disabilities - 3%Arthritis - 6%Article continues below The category ‘all other conditions’ include ailments that make up a small proportion of PIP claims. These can include visual diseases,

skin disease, hearing disorders and autoimmune diseases.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is drawing up plans which could see benefits slashed for some people(Image: Getty) Kendall’s welfare reform will only affect the daily living aspect

of PIP. The mobility element, which offers £29.20 for the standard rate and £77.05 for the enhanced rate, should remain the same under the reforms.

Article continues below The daily living element does offer higher weekly sums, at £73.90 for the standard rate and £110.40 for the enhanced rate. Currently, to get the standard rate you

need to score a total of eight points in the assessment, and a total of 12 or more points to get the enhanced rate

The assessment focuses on how safely, effectively and quickly you can do certain tasks, scoring you on how much assistance or equipment you need to complete it. The 10 tasks and their

highest points available are as follows:

Preparing food - 8Taking medication - 10Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition - 8Washing and bathing - 8Managing toilet needs or incontinence - 8Dressing and undressing -

8Communicating verbally - 12Reading and understanding symbols and words - 8Engaging with other people face to face - 8Making budgeting decisions - 6