Will I lose my £700 PIP profit because of DWP modifications? – and who will nonetheless get it
The plans to reform welfare could impact those applying for PIP and people who already receive it, as hundreds of thousands of Brits are worried they may be hit hard
The UK government has outlined plans to slash the number eligible for Personal Independent Payment (PIP) – hitting hundreds of thousands of Brits. However, these plans are not yet finalised, and the most significant change to PIP is not set to be implemented until November 2026.
This is when the eligibility criteria for new applicants will alter, but only for the daily living component, says the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Those claiming or applying for the mobility component should remain unaffected by these changes.
In the future, to qualify for a PIP payment, individuals will need to demonstrate a higher level of impairment in at least one category, meaning they score at least four points in the daily living assessment.
It remains unclear what this restricted eligibility will mean for current claimants who do not meet the four-point criteria.
Consultations are under way to determine if there could be a different type of support or entitlement for these individuals, similar to the transitional protection now in place for those migrating from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
One significant change that could affect those claiming the daily living element of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the upcoming PIP assessment review.
The paper stated: “To make sure we get this right, we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review.”
One thing to bear in mind is that the proposals are in a so-called Green Paper, technical speak for a government plan going into consultation. Charities and campaigners are preparing to voice their opinions on the paper on behalf of disabled individuals claiming PIP.
However, Liz Kendall, secretary of state for work and pensions, said a previous proposal, where PIP claimants would receive their entitlement in the form of vouchers, would not be proceeding. She also assured that the benefit would not become means-tested.
At present, eligibility for PIP is determined solely by an individual’s health conditions and how they impact their daily life. If it were to become means-tested, it would also take into account income, savings or investments, similar to Universal Credit, potentially leaving more people ineligible.
Every year, more than 820,000 individuals apply for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the UK’s primary disability benefit that offers up to £798.63 monthly at its highest rates.
However, nearly half of these applications are rejected based on the existing eligibility criteria, and this further tightening will result in even more refusals.
As it stands, recipients receive a standard rate of £72.65 weekly or an enhanced payment of £108.55 per week, depending on their disability severity. In addition, they can also receive a supplementary mobility payment of £28.70 or £75.75 at the enhanced level each week according to Wales Online.
Over 3 million people in the UK receive PIP, costing £21.8 billion. These reforms are projected to save £5 billion over the next five years, although the Office for Budget Responsibility has yet to publish their final conclusions on the cost of these changes.
