DWP EXPECTS CLAIMANTS WITH ‘LOWER NEEDS ONLY’ WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DAILY LIVING COMPONENT OF PIP. 07:46, 04 Jun 2025Updated 13:14, 05 Jun 2025 Watch in full: Liz Kendall

announces welfare reforms The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has indicated that the planned reforms to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) next year will provide crucial financial

support for two groups of claimants. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, said PIP will focus on “those with the greatest needs, who are unable to complete

activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them”. However, he added that following the eligibility rule change next November - where someone must score four points

in a written response to Labour MP Noah Law, who asked if the Department would “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”. 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.” Article continues below He continued: “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. The impact assessment, published in March, also estimates that 430,000 future PIP claimants will not qualify for the disability benefit once the reforms

come into force, with an average loss of £4,500 each year. The DWP has now conducted analysis of PIP claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity in 18 of

the most common disabling conditions. These conditions have been chosen as they make up the highest proportions of PIP caseloads. DWP ANALYSIS OF CURRENT DAILY LIVING AWARDS DWP notes on the

analysis state that the health condition category is based on primary health condition as recorded on the PIP Computer System at time of latest assessment. Many claimants have multiple

health conditions but only primary condition is available for analysis. The list below shows PIP health conditions, the number of comments in receipt of PIP daily living component and the

number of claimants awarded less than four points in all daily living activities at 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 - 188,000claimants, 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 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 The latest DWP figures show that at the end of January there were 3.7 million PIP claimants across Great Britain. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously said more

than 1,000 PIP claims are being awarded per day, making the argument for welfare reforms to ensure the system is sustainable for the future. The proposed changes will come into force in

November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. Reforms also include increasing the number of face-to-face assessments. At present, most are being conducted remotely over the phone, by

video call, or paper-based. However, there will be no freeze on PIP payments, which will continue to be non-means-tested, and rise in-line with the September inflation rate. There will be no

changes to the mobility component. You can complete the UK Government's consultation on proposed changes to PIP and the benefits system on GOV.UK here. The consultation closes on June

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