90% Of PIP Standard Daily Living Component Recipients Would Fail New Green Paper Test
As Benefits and Work says, the Government “are hiding the virtual abolition of the standard rate behind a seemingly small change to the scoring system”.
The Pathways to Work Green Paper proposes to remove the PIP daily living component from claimants who do not score 4 points or higher for at least daily living one activity, when their PIP award is reviewed from November 2026.
The DWP has now revealed the proportion of current claimants who would lose out under this rule
- Out of 1,608,000 enhanced daily living awards, 13% (209,000) get fewer than 4 points in all activities.
- Out of 1,283,000 standard daily living awards, 87% (1,116,000) get fewer than 4 points in all activities.
It should be noted that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has suggested that the number of claimants who will lose their awards will be more like 800,000, not as high as the 1,325,250 figure suggested. They argue that this is because people will fight harder to be awarded a 4-point descriptor, including by challenging decisions.
However, Benefits and Work says: “we think that the OBR are being much too optimistic in arguing that over half a million claimants will be able to increase their scores, because:
- there are very limited opportunities to get 4-point descriptors for claimants, especially with some conditions,
- the standard of assessments is very poor in many cases and there is a lack of understanding of many conditions,
- the mandatory revisions and appeals process is very drawn out and demanding. There is very little support available for claimants whose health conditions may limit their ability to pursue an appeal.”
It concludes: “Whatever the final number might be, there will be vastly fewer standard rate daily living awards by the time all current awards have been reviewed. And very few new claims from November 2026 will lead to an award of the standard rate daily living component.”
In a separate FOI request, Benefits and Work has obtained details of the conditions which have the highest number of awards with no 4-point or higher descriptors.
Nearly eight out of ten awards where back pain is the primary disabling condition are at risk under the proposed 4-point or higher rule. This is closely followed by arthritis, where more than three quarters of awards are threatened.
The conditions least likely to lose out are learning disabilities, where only 3% are at risk and autistic spectrum disorders at 6%.
However, only 52% of those with anxiety and depression and 74% with 'other' psychiatric disorders scored 4 points or more.
Note: The PIP mobility element is not included in these reforms.
At present you must score at least 8 points in total, a combination of points of all value, to receive the daily living component of PIP.
These are just some of the criteria taken from the eligibility that score less than the single score (not total) 4 points that will be required to be awarded the PIP daily living component -
- Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition.
- Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe.
- Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist.
- Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower.
- Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs.
- Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body.
- Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear.
- Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information.
- Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people.
Ken Butler DR UK’s Welfare Rights and Policy Adviser said: “whatdotheyknow.com and Benefits and Work must be congratulated in making their FOI requests.
Critically, in PIP legislation, the word "assistance" means "help from another person".
The 4-point rule will mean Disabled people who need help from another person in multiple aspects would no longer be eligible for PIP.
It is an arbitrary reform aimed solely at brutally cutting PIP expenditure.
The Government has offered no evidence that those Disabled people who rightfully score points over a series of PIP daily living activities but not a single 4 points score have
- any less support needs; or
- less disability related expenditure needs
In reality, the Government proposals would largely eliminate the standard daily living component of PIP.
Given that it also proposes to scrap the work capability assessment in 2028 and replace it with a new, single assessment for PIP and the universal credit health element, the result will be damaging to many thousands of Disabled people who would also lose their entitlement to passported benefits.
The Green paper includes a total of 22 policy changes of which the 4 point rule is of these 22 changes, only 11 are being consulted on via the Pathways to Work Green paper.
DR UK’s position is clear: “We are shocked and appalled at the Government’s intended cuts to the benefits that Disabled people rely upon. Narrowing eligibility for Personal Independence Payment and reducing the health component of Universal Credit, will drive millions of Disabled people into even deeper poverty.
“The Government is demonising and punishing Disabled people for the economic failures of successive governments. Why isn’t it looking to the rich, to plug its funding gap?
“This is a very distressing time for Disabled people who could be impacted by the proposed changes. We will do everything we can to fight them and as part of the Disabled people’s movement, will make our voices heard.”
Disability Rights UK has launched a new Take Action page on the DR UK website containing information and resources regarding the recent green paper plan on benefit cuts and how Disabled people can get involved in responding.
Sources: Almost nine out of ten standard rate PIP awards fail new test and Most at risk PIP health conditions revealed both available from benefitsandwork.co.uk
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