DWP PIP payments changes and how people can protect them

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More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could be making major changes to the disability benefits system from November 2026. This will impact nearly 3.7 million people who are receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) .

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said that vouchers will not replace the cash payments of up to £737.20 per month. She added that the benefit will rise in line with September's inflation rate.

Ms Kendall also confirmed that the benefit will remain non means-tested, adding that more than 617,000 people are employed and receive payments from the DWP. This is the equivalent of 17 per cent of all PIP claimants, reports Daily Record . She further announced plans to increase the application age from 16 to 18 and boost the number of face-to-face assessments.

The latter had seen a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic due to lockdown measures. The most significant change will be in eligibility, mainly through a revision of the points scoring system for the daily living component. If these proposed changes are successfully legislated, they will come into effect for new claimants from next November.

This will also apply to existing claimants, meaning it is worth checking your PIP award letter for the date of your next review, essentially marking the end date for your current award. If your review is due before November 2026, and the DWP clears the current backlog of PIP reviews, it should be conducted and a new award decision made, which if successful, should take you past that date. If your award review date falls after November 2026, you will be subject to the newly proposed assessment changes and the revision of the points system for the daily living component.

To qualify for payment, you will need to score at least four points in one of the 10 daily living questions. This applies even if scoring two in every question takes you past the award thresholds of eight (standard rate) and 12 (higher rate). PIP provides additional financial support for working-age individuals with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition.

Below are a few ways to make sure you understand how a review might impact entitlement or payments. PIP 2 evidence form Online claims for PIP can simplify the process of saving a copy to your home computer or laptop for future reference. However, those completing a paper-based form should make a copy of the original document before submitting it.

Those who don't already have a copy of the PIP 2 evidence form - the health questionnaire you completed prior to your assessment - can contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 and request one. The form can act as a reminder of the initial responses you gave to the daily living and mobility questions. It can also assist you in expressing how your condition impacts you now - particularly if your situation has altered and your health has deteriorated or you've developed other problems.

Keep a diary Keeping a diary is important for anyone claiming disability benefits and it doesn't have to be a traditional paper diary. You can use your mobile phone, computer, laptop or tablet to jot down notes about 'bad days' and major events related to your condition. You can make a specific note with the time and date, where you can add things you might want to mention at a future PIP review, or simply add it to your calendar function.

It doesn't need to be a daily task and you can just note down things that are relevant to how your condition affects you. This could include everyday tasks you found challenging to do safely on your own, forgetting to take medication, or feeling low or frustrated due to your condition. Other things worth noting could be everyday activities that: Puts you or someone else in danger.

Makes you feel breathless. Take you a long time. Makes you unsteady.

Were painful for you. Keeping a diary or taking notes is especially useful for people with fluctuating conditions, as it can help articulate 'good days and bad days' to healthcare professionals. It also allows you to track the frequency of significant health events that may be easily forgotten due to their regularity.

Medical appointments It's important to attend all medical appointments related to your condition to keep your records current. This could include sessions such as counselling or physiotherapy. Reaching out Linking up with a charity or an organisation that specialises in your condition could be beneficial.

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