PIP claimants can try out new proposed eligibility test to see how payments may be affected
Many people on PIP aren't entirely sure how the eligibility changes will affect them
After the welfare reforms were revealed last month, recipients of PIP have been anxiously waiting to learn how their payments will be impacted. In response to the proposed eligibility changes, a charity has introduced a new PIP assessment tool.
The new PIP test, created by Benefits and Work, evaluates individuals against the proposed criteria, determining whether the changes will affect their benefits. Users can complete the test multiple times, anonymously or by providing their email address to receive their results for later review.
The charity explained: "We know from comments and emails that a lot of people are confused about how Labour's proposed new PIP scoring system works.
"So we've created an online test to allow you to try the scoring system for yourself."
The test focuses solely on the daily living assessment, as the eligibility requirements for the mobility component of PIP remain unchanged.
It assesses 12 daily activities, such as eating, budgeting, and planning journeys, awarding points based on the level of assistance or equipment required to complete each task efficiently and safely.
Presently, to qualify for the standard rate of PIP's daily living component, a minimum of eight points is needed across the 12 activities. To receive the enhanced rate, a minimum of 12 points is necessary across these activities.
The government is mulling over proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system, which would require claimants to not only meet minimum point thresholds but also score at least four points in a single activity.
This means that individuals who have minor impacts across all categories, accumulating two points per task and reaching a total of 24 points, would fail to qualify under the new rules despite their overall high score.
Officials are currently considering how to safeguard and transition those who met the old criteria but will fall short under the new system. The changes are set to take effect from November 2026, giving people time to adjust.
Benefits and Work issued a cautionary note in their assessment of the new test: "REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT YET THE LAW! This points system is only a proposal at the moment and may never become law."
PIP consists of two parts: the mobility component and the daily living component, each with standard and enhanced rates based on the severity of impact on the individual's life.
At present, the lowest PIP rate is the standard mobility component at £29.20 weekly. The enhanced mobility rate stands at £77.05, which is comparable to the standard daily living rate of £73.90, while the enhanced daily living rate is £110.40.
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