logo
Over 400,000 people on PIP set to lose daily living payments due to new DWP reforms

Over 400,000 people on PIP set to lose daily living payments due to new DWP reforms

Daily Record20-06-2025
The OBR now estimates 430,000 PIP claimants will lose their award between November 2026 and 2030.
New estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) indicate that 1.64 million people currently claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will have an award review between November 2026 and March 2030.
Of these, it expects roughly a quarter (430,000) will lose their daily living award as a result of the tightened eligibility criteria, proposed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). New and existing claimants will need to score at four points in at least one of the 10 daily living categories - along with the requisite number of overall points from others - to qualify for PIP.
The average loss to those claimants would be £4,500 each year, under the current PIP payment rates.
MPs will debate the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on July 1, when it receives its second reading in the House of Commons. However, concerns and questions are expected to be raised on Monday when Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and her senior ministerial team attend the scheduled oral questions session in Parliament.
The DWP has now conducted analysis of PIP claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity in 18 of the most common disabling conditions. These conditions have been chosen as they make up the highest proportions of PIP caseloads.
The DWP has now conducted analysis of PIP claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity in 18 of the most common disabling conditions. These conditions have been chosen as they make up the highest proportions of PIP caseloads.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, recently shared the analysis findings in a written response to Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins.
Sir Stephen said: '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.'
The DWP Minister 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.'
He added that the table of 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 analysis of current daily living awards
DWP notes on the analysis state that the health condition category is based on primary health condition as recorded on the PIP Computer System at time of latest assessment. Many claimants have multiple health conditions but only primary condition is available for analysis.
The list below shows PIP health conditions, the number of comments in receipt of PIP daily living component and the number of claimants awarded less than four points in all daily living activities at the end of January 2025.
Back Pain - 194,000 claimants, 154,000 (79%) scored less than 4 points
Arthritis - 279,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored less than 4 points
Other Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 136,000 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored less than 4 points
Chronic Pain Syndromes - 173,00 claimants, 97,000 (71%) scored less than 4 points
Cardiovascular Diseases - 61,000 claimants, 38,000 (62%) scored less than 4 points
Respiratory Diseases - 83,000 claimants, 45,000 (55%) scored less than 4 points
Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 80,000 claimants, 38,000 (48%) scored less than 4 points
All Other Conditions - 272,000 claimants, 126,000 (46%) scored less than 4 points
Other Neurological Diseases - 97,000 claimants,35,000 (36%) scored less than 4 points
Cerebrovascular Diseases - 56,000 claimants, 19,000 (34%) scored less than 4 points
Cancer - 70,000 claimants, 23,000 (33%) scored less than 4 points
Epilepsy - 36,000 claimants, 11,000 (30%) scored less than 4 points
Other Psychiatric Disorders - 90,000 claimants, 25,000 (28%) scored less than 4 points
Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 47,000 claimants, 11,000 (24%) scored less than 4 points
Psychotic Disorders - 112,000 claimants, 26,000 (23%) scored less than 4 points
ADHD / ADD - 75,000 claimants, 14,000 (19%) scored less than 4 points
Autistic Spectrum Disorders - 206,000 claimants, 13,000 (6%) scored less than 4 points
Learning Disabilities - 188,000claimants, 7,000 (3%) scored less 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

Daily living component for PIP
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
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 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
The 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.

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 - 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
Points 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 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 April there were more than 3.7 million PIP claimants across England and Wales.
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 until 11.59pm on June 30, on GOV.UK here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns
Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns

North Wales Chronicle

time25 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns

Government statistics reveal that in 2023, 320,000 pets were brought into the UK under travel pet schemes and 44,000 entered as commercial imports. RSPCA spokesman David Bowles likened the process to 'Deliveroo for dogs' and called on the Government to tighten regulations on animal rescues. He told the BBC: 'The RSPCA's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs – coming over, not being health tested. 'Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported, they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners. 'They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs and that is a real problem.' There is no requirement for rescue organisations to be licensed in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It comes weeks after a bill that aims to stop animal smuggling and cruelty cleared the Commons with cross-party support. Legislation put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Danny Chambers will reduce the number of animals for non-commercial entry into the UK, ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months old or heavily pregnant dogs and cats, and introduce a halt on the import of dogs and cats who have been 'mutilated', including having their ears docked. The MP for Winchester's Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill was supported by the Government, and will now proceed to the House of Lords on its passage to becoming law. Dr Chambers said: 'As a vet, I've seen the devastating consequences of puppy smuggling. It's unimaginably cruel to separate puppies and kittens from their mothers at a very young age, and then bring them across borders in substandard conditions where they're then sold for maximum profit by unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare.' He added: 'Careful consideration has been given to setting these limits, balancing the need to disrupt illegal trade with minimising impact on genuine pet owners. To underpin this, only an owner, not an authorised person, will be permitted to sign and declare that the movement of a dog or cat is non-commercial. He criticised the influence of social media on the increased demand for dogs with docked ears, and a party colleague hit out at the platforms' role in publishing animal abuse. He said: 'One reason that there is such an interest in dogs with cropped ears is that a lot of influencers on Instagram and other social media platforms pose with these dogs or show they have these new dogs with cropped ears. Many people aren't aware that this is a mutilation. 'They think it's how the dogs' ears normally look, and it drives a demand for dogs that look like this.'

Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns
Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns

Rhyl Journal

timean hour ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns

Government statistics reveal that in 2023, 320,000 pets were brought into the UK under travel pet schemes and 44,000 entered as commercial imports. RSPCA spokesman David Bowles likened the process to 'Deliveroo for dogs' and called on the Government to tighten regulations on animal rescues. He told the BBC: 'The RSPCA's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs – coming over, not being health tested. 'Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported, they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners. 'They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs and that is a real problem.' There is no requirement for rescue organisations to be licensed in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It comes weeks after a bill that aims to stop animal smuggling and cruelty cleared the Commons with cross-party support. Legislation put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Danny Chambers will reduce the number of animals for non-commercial entry into the UK, ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months old or heavily pregnant dogs and cats, and introduce a halt on the import of dogs and cats who have been 'mutilated', including having their ears docked. The MP for Winchester's Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill was supported by the Government, and will now proceed to the House of Lords on its passage to becoming law. Dr Chambers said: 'As a vet, I've seen the devastating consequences of puppy smuggling. It's unimaginably cruel to separate puppies and kittens from their mothers at a very young age, and then bring them across borders in substandard conditions where they're then sold for maximum profit by unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare.' He added: 'Careful consideration has been given to setting these limits, balancing the need to disrupt illegal trade with minimising impact on genuine pet owners. To underpin this, only an owner, not an authorised person, will be permitted to sign and declare that the movement of a dog or cat is non-commercial. He criticised the influence of social media on the increased demand for dogs with docked ears, and a party colleague hit out at the platforms' role in publishing animal abuse. He said: 'One reason that there is such an interest in dogs with cropped ears is that a lot of influencers on Instagram and other social media platforms pose with these dogs or show they have these new dogs with cropped ears. Many people aren't aware that this is a mutilation. 'They think it's how the dogs' ears normally look, and it drives a demand for dogs that look like this.'

Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns
Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns

South Wales Argus

timean hour ago

  • South Wales Argus

Imported dogs could carry disease or behaviour risk, RSPCA warns

Government statistics reveal that in 2023, 320,000 pets were brought into the UK under travel pet schemes and 44,000 entered as commercial imports. RSPCA spokesman David Bowles likened the process to 'Deliveroo for dogs' and called on the Government to tighten regulations on animal rescues. He told the BBC: 'The RSPCA's major concern is these dogs are essentially ticking time bombs – coming over, not being health tested. 'Diseases are now coming in through these dogs. They're affecting not just the dogs that are being imported, they could also affect the dogs already in this country and their owners. 'They've almost set up a Deliveroo for dogs and that is a real problem.' There is no requirement for rescue organisations to be licensed in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It comes weeks after a bill that aims to stop animal smuggling and cruelty cleared the Commons with cross-party support. Legislation put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Danny Chambers will reduce the number of animals for non-commercial entry into the UK, ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months old or heavily pregnant dogs and cats, and introduce a halt on the import of dogs and cats who have been 'mutilated', including having their ears docked. The MP for Winchester's Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill was supported by the Government, and will now proceed to the House of Lords on its passage to becoming law. Dr Chambers said: 'As a vet, I've seen the devastating consequences of puppy smuggling. It's unimaginably cruel to separate puppies and kittens from their mothers at a very young age, and then bring them across borders in substandard conditions where they're then sold for maximum profit by unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare.' He added: 'Careful consideration has been given to setting these limits, balancing the need to disrupt illegal trade with minimising impact on genuine pet owners. To underpin this, only an owner, not an authorised person, will be permitted to sign and declare that the movement of a dog or cat is non-commercial. He criticised the influence of social media on the increased demand for dogs with docked ears, and a party colleague hit out at the platforms' role in publishing animal abuse. He said: 'One reason that there is such an interest in dogs with cropped ears is that a lot of influencers on Instagram and other social media platforms pose with these dogs or show they have these new dogs with cropped ears. Many people aren't aware that this is a mutilation. 'They think it's how the dogs' ears normally look, and it drives a demand for dogs that look like this.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store