DWP confirms new 13-week PIP rule ahead of major benefit shake-up
A new 13-week transitional period before payments are stopped has been revealed as part of the new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed benefit claimants affected by proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will have their payments temporarily protected.
A new 13-week transitional period before payments are stopped has been revealed as part of the new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, details of which have been released today.
The additional protection will apply to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer's element of Universal Credit.
The DWP says this transitional cover is more than three times the length of protection provided from the switch to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP.
DLA used to be the main disability benefit in the UK until it was largely replaced by PIP. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall first announced proposals to change PIP in the House of Commons in March this year, as part of wider measures to reduce the benefits bill by billions of pounds.
Latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show 3.7 million people currently claim PIP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. PIP has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment in Scotland.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it.
"This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity.
"This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot - putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.'
Thomas Lawson, CEO of anti-poverty charity Turn2us, said: "There is no moral justification for cutting the support that allows sick and disabled people to meet their basic needs, live independently, and fully take part in society.
"The positive plans of the government's longer-term reforms are being undermined by these harmful Treasury-driven cuts. Stripping away support will push people deeper into hardship, not employment. It will worsen health conditions, and make recovery harder."
What is PIP?
PIP is a disability benefit for people who need extra help with day-to-day tasks due to an illness, disability or mental health condition.
But your eligibility to PIP isn't based on your condition - instead, it is based on how it affects your life. You will normally have to undergo an assessment where you are assessed with a points system before your claim for PIP is approved.
If your claim is successful, you'll get PIP for a fixed amount of time before it is reviewed. PIP can be awarded for a minimum of nine months, all the way up to an 'on-going' award which is reviewed every ten years.
If you're terminally ill the award will be for three years. PIP comes in two parts - the daily living component, and the mobility component.
How is PIP currently assessed?
Your PIP assessment can take place in person, over the phone or by video call. During your assessment, a health professional may ask you to do simple movements, or ask you questions to test your cognitive ability.
During your assessment, you'll be awarded points for the daily living and mobility parts of PIP. If you score between eight and 11 points for your daily living needs in the PIP test, you get the standard rate of the daily living component.
You get the higher rate of daily living component if you score 12 points or more. If you score between eight and 11 points for your mobility needs, you get the standard rate of the mobility component.
If you score 12 points or more, you get the higher rate of mobility component. Those who are terminally ill won't need a PIP medical assessment.
How is PIP changing?
Earlier this year, Labour announced plans to tighten PIP eligibility rules and confirmed the assessment process will also be reviewed.
The changes would mean you would need a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP from November 2026.
Currently, you can qualify for PIP if you have lower scores across a range of tasks. This means claimants would need to show greater difficulty when completing some tasks, such as washing, eating and getting dressed, to be eligible to claim PIP.
There are no changes planned for the PIP mobility component. The majority of assessments for PIP will also be conducted face-to-face, rather than over the phone or through video.
"Reasonable adjustments" will still be made for people who cannot attend a face-to-face assessment. People with health conditions that are permanent or will get worse will not have to be reassessed under the new plans - but other claimants could face more frequent reassessments.
There will not be a set list of conditions that will be eligible for this, and it will decided on a case-by-case basis.
How much is PIP?
The daily living rate is worth £73.90 a week if you're awarded the lower rate, or £110.40 a week for the higher rate. The mobility rate is worth £29.20 a week for the lower rate, or £77.05 a week for the higher rate.
PIP is paid every four weeks, so if you're awarded the maximum rates for both the daily living and mobility elements, then you would get £749.80 every four weeks.
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