Latest news with #SocialSecurityandDisability
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
New DWP update for older people on PIP ahead of welfare reforms next year
Nearly 700,000 people of State Pension age are receiving PIP payments of up to £749.80 each month. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - information The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to introduce new changes to eligibility and assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from November 2026. The welfare reforms will impact new and existing claimants, however, Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, has said that people of State Pension age are not 'routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by these changes'. But it's important to be aware that relates to existing PIP policy where people nearing State Pension age making a new claim for PIP, or existing claimants turning 66, are typically given a 'light-touch' review of 10 years. Conservative MP Alicia Kearns recently asked DWP whether 'existing Personal Independence Payment claimants of pension age with a planned award review from November 2026 will be required to score at least four points in one daily living activity in order to maintain their award'. In a written response, Sir Stephen explained how the 'Pathways to Work Green Paper' 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' adding that this 'requirement will need to be met in addition to the existing PIP eligibility criteria'. He continued: 'In keeping with existing policy, people of State Pension age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by these changes. 'All claimants are required to notify the Department of any change to their circumstance, be that an improvement or deterioration in their needs. Upon notification of a change, a Case Manager will consider what further action might be required to ensure the claimant is receiving the correct level of support.' In a second written question from the MP for Rutland and Stamford, Ms Kearns asked whether PIP claimants of State Pension age 'who request a change of circumstances review from November 2026 will be required to score at least four points in one daily living activity'. Sir Stephen gave the same response to the first question. The latest figures from the DWP show there are now 3.7 million people across Great Britain claiming PIP. The data also indicates there are 690,186 people over State Pension age in receipt of the disability payment, boosting their monthly income to up to £1,670.80. During the current financial year, thousands of people over State Pension age in Scotland, England and Wales will receive support of between £116.80 and £749.80 every four-week pay period. Pensioners on PIP The latest DWP figures show that across Scotland, England and Wales, the number of people over 65 on PIP includes: Aged 65 - 69: 416,230 Aged 70 - 74: 213,113 Aged 75 - 79: 60,846 Total: 690,186 Many people over 56 and nearing State Pension age may not be aware of a change to PIP guidance in 2019 that states 'claimants whose review would have taken place when they were of State Pension age means that they are now generally awarded ongoing awards'. Award types and review periods are set on an individual basis, based on the claimant's needs and the likelihood of those needs changing. It takes into account such matters as planned treatment/therapy or learning/adapting to manage a condition. PIP awards Guidance from DWP states: For fixed length awards, the review period usually ranges from a minimum of nine months to a maximum 10 years Review periods of less than nine months are set only in exceptional circumstances An award of two years or less is considered short-term Combined incomes The full, New State Pension is now worth £230.25 each week (£921 every 4-week pay period) and the Basic State Pension up to £176.45 (£705.80 every 4-week pay period) - how much you are paid depends on the amount of National Insurance contributions made. Although payments for State Pension, PIP and ADP are made separately, they could provide a combined monthly income of up to £1,670.80 - based on someone in receipt of the full, New State Pension and highest PIP or ADP awards for the daily living and mobility component. PIP and ADP payment rates 2025/26 You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support. Payments are made every four weeks. PIP is made up of two components: Daily living Mobility Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Daily living Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £110.40 Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 PIP, ADP and State Pension age When someone reaches State Pension age, they can no longer make a new claim for PIP, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or ADP. However, if someone is already receiving PIP, DLA, or ADP when they reach State Pension age, they will continue to receive the benefit until the award period ends where it will be reviewed following the normal process. People who reach State Pension age who are no longer claiming any of the working age disability benefits may also be able to reclaim it - as long as they are claiming for the same health conditions that they initially received the award for and the last claim ended less than 12 months before reaching State Pension age. For people over State Pension age with a health condition, long-term illness or disability they may be eligible for Attendance Allowance - this is worth either £73.90 or £110.40 every week from DWP. Find out more about claiming Attendance Allowance here. If you have not yet reached State Pension age but are living with a health condition, disability or long-term illness, you may qualify for PIP or ADP. Below is an overview of both benefits. Who is eligible for PIP or ADP? To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you: have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP. preparing, cooking or eating food managing your medication washing, bathing or using the toilet dressing and undressing engaging and communicating with other people reading and understanding written information making decisions about money planning a journey or following a route moving around There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the website here. DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they 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 How you are assessed You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments. Most assessments take place over the phone. Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here. How to make a new claim for PIP You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the website here. Before you call, you will need: your contact details your date of birth your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits your bank or building society account number and sort code your doctor or health worker's name, address and telephone number dates and addresses for any time you've spent abroad, in a care home or hospital Even if you don't qualify for financial support, you could be eligible for a National Entitlement Travel Card, which offers free or reduced travel across Scotland on most public transport links. For more information about PIP, visit here. How to apply for Adult Disability Payment People can apply ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Benefit claimants likely to keep daily living payments after major reforms
The DWP has analysed Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity in 18 of the most common disabling conditions The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has signalled that next year's proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will deliver essential financial aid to two sets of beneficiaries. Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms commented that PIP is being honed to cater for "those with the greatest needs, who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them". But, he pointed out, a shake-up of eligibility criteria in November – necessitating claimants to notch four points in any one of the ten daily living activities for PIP qualification – will see "people with lower needs" missing out on monthly sums of either £295.60 or £441.60. Sir Stephen Timms made these observations in a written reply to Labour MP Noah Law, who queried whether the DWP had evaluated the potential advantages of allowing individuals to maintain their PIP entitlement even if they accrue points across various activities but fail to reach four points in a single activity. In his response, Sir Stephen said: "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." Sir Stephen said: "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." He added: "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. "Our intention is that this change will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval." According to the DWP's estimates, the proposed eligibility rule changes to the daily living component of PIP will result in approximately 370,000 existing claimants losing their entitlement when their award is reviewed during the 2029/30 financial year. The impact assessment, released in March, also forecasts that 430,000 future PIP claimants will not be eligible for the disability benefit once the reforms are implemented, with an average annual loss of £4,500 each, reports the Daily Record. The DWP has now carried out an analysis of PIP claimants who did not score four points in at least one daily living activity in 18 of the most prevalent disabling conditions. These conditions were selected as they constitute the largest 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.
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
PIP update for people due DWP assessment before reforms start next year
Proposed changes to PIP are set to come into effect for new and existing claimants from November 2026. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed plans in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper to increase the number of face-to-face assessments for people making a new claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and those coming to the end of their payment award due a review. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, has also confirmed that the DWP remains 'committed to enabling a multi-channel assessment approach' but the focus will be on ramping up in-person PIP assessments. DWP will continue to offer telephone and video calling consultations. However, he also added that 'the feasibility of a paper-based assessment will always be considered in the first instance, for all cases' adding that 'where a paper-based review is not possible the claimant will be invited to an assessment '. In his written response to Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan, he went on to say that before an invitation to an assessment is sent, 'consideration will be given to claimants who need a specific assessment channel due to their health condition or circumstances'. Sir Stephen continued: 'Other claimants who can undertake any assessment type will be allocated to the next available appointment; however, this can be changed if the claimant informs us that a reasonable adjustment is appropriate in their circumstances. 'The Department audits Functional Assessment Service suppliers to ensure that the correct PIP assessment channel type has been selected for the claimant. This provides assurance that claimants are routed to the most appropriate assessment type.' In a separate written response to Conservative MP Gregory Stafford, Sir Stephen also clarified that the DWP has 'set clear requirements on the professions, skills, experience, and training of health professionals (HPs) that assessment suppliers use to carry out assessments' for PIP. He explained how the Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide (PIPAG) states all HPs recruited for the delivery of PIP assessments (or any parts of these) must meet certain requirements. These include: Be an occupational therapist, nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic, doctor, pharmacist or by exception, another registered healthcare professional, providing the requirements set out within the PIPAG are met, the individual continues to satisfy quality and probation processes, and only by individual, prior, written agreement with the DWP. Be fully registered with the relevant licensing body Have no sanctions attached to registration unless: they relate to disability, or the HP is a doctor who has an approved practice setting (APS) (as defined by the General Medical Council from time to time) requirement on the grounds that they have not had their first revalidation post qualification as a doctor In individual cases, the requirement for HPs not to have any sanction attached to registration may be waived subject to prior written agreement with DWP (no waiver is required in relation to any sanction relating to disability or an APS requirement) Have at least one year's post full registration experience (this refers to either UK registration or equivalent overseas registration for non-UK HPs) or less than one year's post full registration experience by individual, prior, written agreement with the DWP. Have passed a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the appropriate level. Proposed changes to PIP are set to come into effect from November 2026.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Full list of people on PIP most at risk of payment cut under new DWP welfare reforms
DWP analysis breaks down 18 most-claimed PIP conditions and daily living scores below four points. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that proposed eligibility rule changes to the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (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. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, shared the analysis findings in a written response to Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins. Sir Stephen said: 'A breakdown of the impact of the reforms on disability overall has been published as part of an Equality Analysis of the Spring Statement package of measures 'Data on the health conditions of Universal Credit claimants being placed in the LCWRA has been published and will continue to be taken into account in the future programme of analysis.' The DWP Minister continued: 'Analysis of those who do not score four points in at least one daily living activity for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has now been undertaken.' He added that the table of findings 'shows the volume of claimants with the 18 most common disabling conditions in receipt of the PIP daily living component in January 2025, as well as the volume and proportion of these claimants who were awarded less than four points in all 10 daily living activities.' 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 here.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
DWP ‘considering' how proposed PIP eligibility changes will affect claimants over state Pension age
Reforms to PIP eligibility and assessments are due to start from November next year. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to introduce new changes to eligibility and assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from November 2026. The welfare reforms will be applied to all new claims while some of the 3.7 million people currently in receipt of the disability benefit may see changes to their award at their next review, after November 2026. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, has previously stated that people of State Pension age in receipt of PIP are 'not expected to be affected by the proposed changes'. However, in a written response to SNP Chris Law, the DWP Minister said that the Department is 'considering further how the four-point minimum requirement (for the daily living component) will affect claimants over State Pension age who report a change of circumstances.' Sir Stephen's comments came after the Dundee Central MP asked questions relating specifically to the impact of planned reforms for pensioners on PIP. The latest figures from the DWP show that at the end of January, some 690,186 people aged between 65 and 79 were receiving PIP, including 2,492 living in Scotland. These claimants will transfer to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and the Social Security Scotland system this summer. Mr Ship asked whether the DWP policy that existing PIP claimants of State Pension age who are subject to a planned award review from November 2026 will be required to score at least four points in one daily living activity in order to maintain their award. He also asked whether the DWP policy that existing PIP claimants of State Pension age who request a change of circumstances review from November 2026 are required to score at least four points in one daily living activity in order to either maintain and/or increase their award. In a written response to the first question, Sir Stephen responded: 'Our intention is for the new eligibility requirement for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - requiring individuals to score at least four points in a single daily living activity - to apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. 'In line with current policy, individuals over State Pension Age are not routinely subject to full award reviews and are therefore not expected to be affected by the proposed changes.' In a written response to the second question, Sir Stephen said: 'In keeping with existing policy, people on state pension age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by these changes. 'We are considering further how the 4-point minimum requirement will affect claimants over state pension age who report a change of circumstances, and we will provide further information in due course.' There are currently 3.7m people across Great Britain in claim for PIP, however, the UK Government expects that figure to rise to 4m by the end of the decade and has proposed a raft of new measures to make the benefit sustainable for future generations. Proposed PIP changes and online consultation Proposed package of reforms to overhaul the welfare system, include: Ending reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with lifelong conditions to ensure they can live with dignity and security. Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment to end the process that drives people into dependency, delivering on the UK Government's manifesto commitment to reform or replace it. Providing improved employment support backed by £1 billion including new tailored support conversations for people on health and disability benefits to break down barriers and unlock work. Legislating to protect those on health and disability benefits from reassessment or losing their payments if they take a chance on work. To ensure the welfare system is available for those with the greatest needs now and in the future, the UK Government has made decisions to improve its sustainability and protect those who need it most. These include: Reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and are not written off. Targeting PIP for those with higher needs by changing the eligibility requirement to a minimum score of four on at least one of the daily living activities to receive the daily living element of the benefit, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria. Rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit to improve the Standard Allowance. Consulting on delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until someone is aged 22 and reinvesting savings into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee. DWP also launched an online consultation on the new proposals to coincide with the publication of the Green paper. The consultation can be completed by anyone and is open until June 30, 2025 - you can find full details on here. It's important to be aware that the proposed reforms announced by the DWP will not directly affect disability claimants in Scotland currently claiming devolved health-related benefits - unless funding for the Scottish Government is impacted by planned changes by Westminster.
