New PIP evaluation guidelines defined as Liz Kendall’s ‘four-point rule’ may hit 800,000
Many of the 821,000 PIP applications the DWP receives every year could be turned down under new welfare reforms set to be introduced by the Labour government
Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the UK’s leading adult disability benefit could be tightened in November 2026 if Liz Kendall’s freshly announced welfare reforms are successfully put into play. The reform would issue in a number of changes but what may make the biggest difference is stricter eligibility criteria which the MP introduced as a four-point rule.
This change could mean many of the 821,000 applications the DWP receives for PIP a year would be turned away. Specifically for the daily living element of PIP, which offers up to £108.55 each week alone.
PIP consists of two parts; mobility and daily living. To qualify for the daily living component at the moment, you need to undergo an assessment to determine how safely, quickly and efficiently you can perform 10 daily activities.
In the assessment, each activity carries a different number of points, ranging from six to 12. The number of points you receive depends on how safely, quickly and efficiently you can carry out the activity according to Turn2Us.
One of the activities with the lowest score is handling money. This category has a maximum of only six points, which you will need to demonstrate that you struggle to handle money to the extent that you can’t add up shopping or work out change even with assistance.
You could earn four points in this activity if you require help or a reminder to calculate your shopping. You can get two points if you can only budget and pay bills with someone else’s help and no points if you’re capable of paying bills and budgeting independently.
On the other hand, speaking is one of the activities that can earn you the most points. If you’re unable to speak or understand others even with the assistance of a specially trained individual, such as a sign language interpreter or support worker, you could receive up to 12 points.
If you can speak and comprehend a simple sentence with the help of a specially trained person, you could be awarded eight points. If you require assistance to speak or understand more than one sentence, you could receive four points.
Two points are available for individuals who can only speak or hear with the use of a special aid, like hearing aids or communication books. However, if you can communicate and understand others without any assistance or aid, you won’t qualify for any points.
Other activities considered in the daily living assessment include:
- Preparing food
- Eating and drinking
- Managing your treatments
- Washing and bathing
- Using the toilet and managing incontinence
- Dressing and undressing
- Talking, listening and understanding
- Reading
- Socialising with others
- Managing money
These points are all tallied, and if your total falls between eight and 11, you may qualify for the standard rate of £72.65 per week. If you score 12 or more, you may be eligible for the enhanced rate of £108.55 per week.
When Kendall’s reforms take effect in November 2026, applicants will still be required to meet this criteria. However, they will also need to score at least four points in a single activity to qualify.
This amendment is set to reduce the number of people eligible for the benefit, potentially impacting thousands. The MP highlighted the scale of this issue during her speech in Parliament, stating: “Every day, there are more than 1,000 new PIP awards.”
