DWP update shows PIP conditions most at risk of benefit cuts

New DWP analysis shows the conditions set to be most likely to have claimants who will not qualify under the new Personal Independence Payments changes. The PIP reforms are set to be implemented in November 2026.

With the current Department for Work and rules, applicants must score at least eight points across 10 questions in the daily living assessment to claim PIP. Under the proposed changes in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall's welfare reforms, claimants will also need to achieve a minimum of four points in any single question.

The latest figures reveal how many current benefit recipients would not meet this requirement, categorised based on what condition they are claiming the benefit for. A total of 79% of people claiming for back pain scored fewer than four points in a single question during their assessment.

Similarly, 71% of individuals with chronic pain syndromes would not meet the new criteria. A total of 62% of people with cardiovascular diseases and 55% of those with respiratory diseases could also potentially lose their benefit, according to the .

The other main condition groups and the number of claimants that do not meet the four-point requirement revealed in the DWP figures include:

• Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 71%
• Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 48%
• All other conditions - 46%
• Other neurological diseases - 36%
• Cerebrovascular diseases - 34%
• Cancer - 33%
• Epilepsy - 30%
• Other psychiatric disorders - 28%
• Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 24%
• Psychotic disorders - 23%
• ADHD/ADD - 19%
• Autism spectrum disorders - 6%
• Learning disabilities - 3%
• Arthritis - 6%

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The 'all other conditions' category includes ailments that make up a small proportion of PIP claims. For example, visual diseases, skin disease, hearing disorders and autoimmune diseases.

Kendall's welfare reform will only impact the daily living component of PIP, officials say. The mobility element, which provides £29.20 for the standard rate and £77.05 for the enhanced rate, is expected to remain unchanged under the reforms.

The daily living component does offer higher weekly amounts, at £73.90 for the standard rate and £110.40 for the enhanced rate. Currently, to qualify for the standard rate you need to accumulate a total of eight points in the assessment, and 12 or more to receive the enhanced rate.

The assessment concentrates on how safely, effectively and quickly you can perform certain tasks, scoring you based on how much assistance or equipment you require to complete it. The 10 tasks and their maximum available points are as follows:

• 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