Politicians have discussed potential modifications to a benefit that approximately 3.7 million Britons receive, with changes expected to be implemented next year. Should the proposals be sanctioned, recipients of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will experience alterations from November 2026.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has indicated that these adjustments will encompass a “wider review” of the criteria used on the application form.
The “PIP 2 evidence form” is a crucial stage in the application process where applicants answer various questions about daily living and mobility, selecting descriptors that best reflect how their condition affects their ability to carry out certain activities.
As highlighted by the Daily Record, Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms commented: “We urgently need reform to stop people from falling into inactivity, restore trust and fairness in the system and promote the interests of disabled people.
“This means we need to take decisive action to tackle a situation in which PIP claims are set to double from two million to over 4.3 million this decade. We are consulting on how best to support those affected by the changes.”
Sir Stephen added: “We will also consider improvements to the PIP assessment. We will launch a wider review of the PIP indicators, which I shall lead, and we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.”
In his formal reply to Labour MP Andy McDonald, the DWP Minister further commented: “We will be bringing forward changes in a Bill so Parliament can fully debate and vote on them.”
Moreover, the representative for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East questioned the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about any discussions held with “disabled people’s groups on the introduction of the requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity” to qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
In another written statement, Sir Stephen noted: “The review of the PIP assessment will be a major undertaking which will take time and require extensive engagement. 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. We will provide further details as plans progress.
“Any changes to the PIP assessment would only be introduced following the reforms set out in the Green Paper. In the meantime, the changes to PIP eligibility will be introduced via a Bill so that Parliament can fully debate and vote on these changes.”
The PIP 2 evidence form poses questions about various everyday tasks including preparing and eating food, washing and bathing, dressing and undressing, communicating verbally, engaging with people face-to face and reading signs and symbols.
Under the proposed changes, points will be allocated to each response. To qualify for either the standard or enhanced rate, a claimant would need to score at least four points for one answer to any of the daily living questions, in addition to points for other responses.
A comprehensive list of the questions and descriptors, along with the points awarded per answer, is available on the Citizens Advice website.
Currently, eight points are required for the standard award of the daily living component of PIP, and 12 for the enhanced rate. The same points scale applies to the mobility component, which is not under review.
The value of the daily living component now ranges between £295.60 and £441.60 for every four-week payment period.
The policy measures are projected to decrease the overall PIP caseload by 400,000 in 2029/30. However, the total number of claimants is anticipated to significantly increase over the next five years, by more than 750,000 (24%).
According to the most recent DWP statistics, 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 over 1,000 PIP claims are being approved daily, underscoring the need for welfare reforms to ensure future sustainability.
The reforms also propose an increase in the number of face-to-face assessments. Currently, most are conducted remotely via phone, video call, or paper-based methods.
However, there will be no halt on PIP payments, which will remain non-means-tested and increase in accordance with the inflation rate in September. The suggested modifications are set to be implemented in November 2026, pending parliamentary approval.