PIP claimants who face losing benefits under new DWP rules - The Mirror

PIP claimants who face losing benefits under new DWP rulesThe Department for Work and Pensions has published an impact assessment on the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility

changes, with 370,000 existing claimants set to lose their entitlementMoneyLinda Howard Money and Consumer Writer and Rory Poulter06:00, 03 Jun 2025Updated 07:47, 03 Jun 2025An additional

430,000 future claimants will be denied disability benefits once the reforms take effect(Image: undefined via Getty Images) 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.

DWP analysis breaks down 18 most-claimed PIP conditions and daily living scores below four points.(Image: Getty Images ) 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."

Article continues below 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.

READ MORE: Martin Lewis urgent £70 red alert to anyone with a Mastercard 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.

READ MORE: Brits heading to Spain on alert after deadly virus found in holiday hotspot 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 pointsArthritis - 279,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored fewer than 4 pointsOther Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 136,000

claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored fewer than 4 pointsChronic Pain Syndromes - 173,00 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored fewer than 4 pointsCardiovascular Diseases - 61,000 claimants, 38,000 (62%)

scored fewer than 4 pointsRespiratory Diseases - 83,000 claimants, 45,000 (55%) scored fewer than 4 pointsMultiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 80,000 claimants, 38,000 (48%) scored

fewer than 4 pointsAll Other Conditions - 272,000 claimants, 126,000 (46%) scored fewer than 4 pointsOther Neurological Diseases - 97,000 claimants,35,000 (36%) scored fewer than 4

pointsCerebrovascular Diseases - 56,000 claimants, 19,000 (34%) scored fewer than 4 pointsCancer - 70,000 claimants, 23,000 (33%) scored fewer than 4 pointsEpilepsy - 36,000 claimants,

11,000 (30%) scored fewer than 4 pointsOther Psychiatric Disorders - 90,000 claimants, 25,000 (28%) scored fewer than 4 pointsCerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 47,000

claimants, 11,000 (24%) scored fewer than 4 pointsPsychotic Disorders - 112,000 claimants, 26,000 (23%) scored fewer than 4 pointsADHD / ADD - 75,000 claimants, 14,000 (19%) scored fewer

than 4 pointsAutistic Spectrum Disorders - 206,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored fewer than 4 pointsLearning 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 DiseasesOther General Musculoskeletal DiseasesEndocrine DiseasesHearing DisordersGastrointestinal DiseasesGenitourinary DiseasesSkin DiseasesAutoimmune Diseases (Connective Tissue

Disorders)Infectious DiseasesDiseases of the Liver, Gallbladder or Biliary TractHaematological DiseasesMetabolic DiseasesMultisystem and Extremes of AgeDiseases of the Immune System Anxiety

and depression

Anxiety disorders - Other / type not knownPost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Stress reaction disorders - Other / type not knownGeneralised anxiety disorderPhobia - SpecificPhobia -

SocialAgoraphobiaPanic disorderObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)Anxiety and depressive disorders - mixedConversion disorder (hysteria)Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)Dissociative disorders -

Other / type not knownSomatoform disorders - Other / type not knownDepressive disorderBipolar affective disorder (Hypomania / Mania)Mood disorders - Other / type not knownDaily living

component for PIP You might get the daily living component of PIP if you need help with:

eating, drinking or preparing foodwashing, bathing, using the toilet, managing incontinencedressing and undressingtalking, listening, reading and understandingmanaging your medicines or

treatmentsmaking decisions about moneymixing with other peopleREAD MORE: 'My husband was told he needed glasses, then he collapsed and died'How difficulty with tasks is assessed 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 safelyhow long it takes youhow often your condition affects this activitywhether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipmentThe descriptors 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.

Introduced by the government in 2013, the benefit cap limits the total amount of benefits households can receive(Image: PA)‌Using aids or appliances 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.”

‌Daily living scores 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 - 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 - 6READ MORE: Holidaymakers told to wear

masks and get jabs as cases of 'new Covid' soarPoints and payment rates 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 PIPIf 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 PIPIf 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.

Article continues below 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.