Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced a raft of swapping reforms planned for the welfare system including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit and incapacity benefits. Changes, subject to parliamentary approval, will come into force in November 2026.
The number of face-to-face assessments will increase, as at present most are being conducted remotely over the phone, by video call, or paper-based. There will be no freeze on PIP payments, no replacement of cash payments with vouchers and no changes to eligibility for the mobility component.
However, Ms Kendall said the points scoring system for the daily living element - worth between £290.60 and £434.20 every four-week pay period - will change for new and existing claimants.
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The UK Government said it will bring in a new eligibility requirement for a minimum score of at least four points regarding how much help the person needs with everyday tasks for the daily living element of the benefit.
There are 10 questions on the daily living health questionnaire (PIP 2 evidence form) which forms the main part of a PIP application. You can view the full set of questions and descriptors, with the points awarded by answer on the current form, on the Citizens Advice website here.
Ms Kendall told MPs on Tuesday: “We will legislate for a change in PIP so that people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP from November 2026. That will not affect the mobility component of PIP and relates only to the daily living element.”
The UK Government confirmed the change “means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future”.
Put simply, someone who scores 4 points in one daily living category, but a lower score in the others, will be awarded the PIP lower daily living component if their total score is 8 points or more. Twelve points or more would result in the higher daily living award.
However, someone who scores under 4 points in all 10 daily living categories would not qualify for any payment.
Ms Kendall added: “Alongside that, we will launch a review of the PIP assessment, led by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms MP), in close consultation with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts, so that we can ensure that PIP and the assessment process are fit for purpose now and into the future.”
The reforms are expected to save over £5 billion in 2029/30, however the final costings will be set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves during the Spring Statement on March 26.
The Government confirmed the change “means that people who only score the lowest points on each of the PIP daily living activities will lose their entitlement in future”.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the impact of that change is difficult to predict “as the way claimants approach the assessment is likely to change in response”. However, the Resolution Foundation estimates as many as 1.2 million claimants could be affected.
The IFS pointed out that previous governments attempting similar reforms “have found that they have saved much less than hoped”.
The UK Government said some people will lose their PIP entitlement as the process to qualify is tightened in an effort to focus the disability benefit on “those with higher needs”.
You can complete the UK Government's consultation on proposed changes to PIP and the benefits system on GOV.UK here.
The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of January some 3.7 million people were in claim for PIP and receiving between £114.8 and £737.20 every four weeks.
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
PIP payment rates
A successful claim for PIP is currently worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week in additional financial support. As the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every payment period.
You will be paid the following amounts per week, depending on your award level:
Daily Living Component
Enhanced: £108.55 (rising to £110.40 in April)
Standard: £72.65 (rising to £73.90 in April)
Mobility Component
Enhanced: £75.75 (rising to £77.05 in April)
Standard: £28.70 (rising to £29.20 in April)
Find out more about PIP on GOV.UK here.
