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Certain people in receipt of a benefit in the UK are more likely to continue to get payments despite proposed changes. The eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is due to shift in 2026.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has signalled that the upcoming changes to PIP next year are set to deliver vital financial aid to two specific groups of beneficiaries.

As reported by the , Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms commented that PIP will be honed in on "those with the greatest needs, who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them".

Yet, he noted that due to the alteration in eligibility rules slated for next November - which necessitates claimants to amass four points in at least one of the 10 daily living activities to qualify for PIP - "people with lower needs" will face the cessation of their monthly payments amounting to either £295.60 or £441.60.

Sir Stephen's remarks were made in a written reply to Labour MP Noah Law, who enquired whether the Department had plans to "make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing people who accumulate points across multiple Personal Independence Payment activities, but do not score four points in any single activity, to retain their entitlement".

To this, Sir Stephen responded: "PIP is an important, non-means tested benefit for disabled people and people with health conditions - regardless of whether they are in or out of work.

"However, the rate of increases in claims and expenditure is not sustainable and has outstripped the growth in disability prevalence. Changes are needed that will control the spend on the welfare bill, while continuing to support those people with higher needs relating to their long-term health condition or disability."

He added: "In our Pathways to Work Green Paper we announced that we will introduce a new eligibility requirement to ensure that only those who score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity will be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This requirement will need to be met in addition to the existing PIP eligibility criteria.

"This will focus PIP more on those with the greatest needs, who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them. This means that people who have lower needs only in the daily living activities (scoring three or less for each activity) will no longer be eligible for the daily living component of PIP."

Sir Stephen added: "Our intention is that this change will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval."

The DWP estimates that proposed eligibility rule changes to the daily living component of PIP will result in 370,000 existing claimants losing their entitlement when their award is reviewed during the 2029/30 financial year. An impact assessment published in March estimates that 430,000 future PIP claimants will not qualify for the disability benefit once the reforms are implemented, resulting in an average annual loss of £4,500 each.

The DWP has carried out an analysis of PIP claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity across 18 of the most common disabling conditions. These conditions were selected as they represent the largest proportions of PIP caseloads.

Notes on the DWP's analysis indicate that the health condition category is based on the primary health condition recorded on the PIP Computer System at the time of the latest assessment. While many claimants have multiple health conditions, only the primary condition is available for analysis.

The list below outlines PIP health conditions, the number of comments received regarding the PIP daily living component, and the number of claimants awarded less than four points in all daily living activities as of 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 - 188,000 claimants, 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.

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.
  

According to the latest DWP figures, there were 3.7 million PIP claimants across Great Britain at the end of January. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously stated that more than 1,000 PIP claims are being awarded per day, underscoring the need for welfare reforms to ensure the system's sustainability.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the proposed changes are set to be implemented in November 2026. The proposed changes also involve an increase in the number of face-to-face assessments. Currently, most are carried out remotely via phone calls, video calls, or paper-based methods.

However, there will be no halt on PIP payments, which will remain non-means-tested and will increase in line with the inflation rate in September. There will be no alterations to the mobility component.

You can participate in the UK Government's consultation on the suggested changes to PIP and the benefits system on the GOV.UK website . The consultation period ends on June 30, 2025.