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What are PIP disability payments and how could they change? What are Pip disability payments and how are they changing?
(about 1 hour later)
Changes to a key disability benefit called Personal Independence Payment (Pip) are being considered by the government as it tries to cut welfare spending. The government has announced a series of changes to the welfare system aimed at saving £5bn by the end of 2030 and getting more people into work.
It will be harder to claim a key disability benefit called Personal Independence Payment (Pip) under the proposals.
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What is Pip and how are the rules changing?
Pip is paid to people who have difficulty completing everyday tasks or getting around as a result of a long-term physical or mental health condition.Pip is paid to people who have difficulty completing everyday tasks or getting around as a result of a long-term physical or mental health condition.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure from some MPs and charities, who say vulnerable people could lose out if the rules for qualifying are tightened or payments changed. There are two elements - a daily living component and a mobility component. Claimants may be eligible for one or both.
Charities and MPs warn Starmer over benefits changes
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How much are Pip payments worth?
There are two elements to Pip - a daily living component and a mobility component. Claimants may be eligible for one or both.
Daily living covers areas such as requiring help with preparing food, washing, reading and managing your money. The mobility element includes physically moving around or getting out of your home.Daily living covers areas such as requiring help with preparing food, washing, reading and managing your money. The mobility element includes physically moving around or getting out of your home.
For each, there are two categories of payment - standard and, for those with greater needs, enhanced. Applicants are scored on a points system based on their ability to carry out everyday tasks and on their mobility. Those who score 8-11 points in total receive the standard rate of Pip, and those who score 12 points and over are eligible for the enhanced rate.
For daily living: From November 2026, the government says applicants will need to score at least four points in one activity to receive the daily living component of Pip.
The standard rate is £72.65 per week Eligibility for mobility payments will not be affected.
The enhanced rate is £108.55 per week The payments for daily living are:
For mobility: A standard rate of £72.65 per week
The standard rate is £28.70 per week An enhanced rate of £108.55 per week
The enhanced rate is £75.75 per week For mobility the payments are:
Pip is usually paid every four weeks and is tax-free. A standard rate of £28.70 per week
It does not change depending on your savings or income and does not count as income affecting other benefits, or the benefit cap. You can get Pip if you are working. An enhanced rate of £75.75 per week
The payment is made for a fixed period of time between one and 10 years, after which it is reviewed. A reassessment could come earlier if your circumstances change. Pip is usually paid every four weeks and is tax-free. It does not change depending on your savings or income and does not count as income affecting other benefits, or the benefit cap. You can get Pip if you are working.
At present, the payment is made for a fixed period of time between one and 10 years, after which it is reviewed. A reassessment could come earlier if your circumstances change.
Under the changes announced by the government, those with the highest levels of a permanent condition or disability will no longer face reassessment.
Initially, it was thought Pip payments might not be increased in line with inflation for a year, but the government has said they will not be frozen or means tested.
Pip is paid in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.Pip is paid in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
There is a similar but separate benefit in Scotland called the Adult Disability Payment.There is a similar but separate benefit in Scotland called the Adult Disability Payment.
How many people receive PIP?How many people receive PIP?
More than 3.6 million people currently claim Pip.More than 3.6 million people currently claim Pip.
Overall, about 1.3m people now claim disability benefits primarily for mental health or behavioural conditions such as ADHD. When it was introduced in 2013, the aim was to save £1.4bn a year by reducing the number of people eligible for payments.
That is 44% of all working age claimants, according to the independent economic think-tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
How might the rules be changed?
There is a push by ministers to encourage people into work.
The eligibility criteria for Pip is set to be tightened significantly, which could mean changing the scoring system for those who qualify.
At the moment, applicants are scored on a points based system based on their ability to carry out everyday tasks and on their mobility.
Those who score 8-11 points receive the standard rate of Pip, and those who score 12 points and over are eligible for the enhanced rate.
The government also wants more frequent reassessments of those claiming the benefit. However, those who are deemed to have the highest levels of a permanent condition or disability may no longer face reassessment.
Initially, it was thought the government might not increase Pip payments in line with inflation for a year - but that idea is thought to have been withdrawn after Labour MPs voiced opposition.
When Pip was introduced in 2013, the aim was to save £1.4bn a year by reducing the number of people eligible for payments.
However, initial savings were modest and the number of claimants has risen.However, initial savings were modest and the number of claimants has risen.
Pip is now the second-largest element of the working-age welfare bill, with spending expected to almost double to £34bn by 2029-30.Pip is now the second-largest element of the working-age welfare bill, with spending expected to almost double to £34bn by 2029-30.
Overall, the government currently spends £65bn a year on health and disability-related benefits. This is projected to increase to £100bn by 2029.Overall, the government currently spends £65bn a year on health and disability-related benefits. This is projected to increase to £100bn by 2029.
What about changes to other benefits? About 1.3m people now claim disability benefits primarily for mental health or behavioural conditions such as ADHD.
Although much of the focus is on reforming Pip, the government may also decide to make changes to other benefits. That is 44% of all working age claimants, according to the independent economic think-tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
Universal Credit is the largest working-age benefit, paid to 7.5 million people who may, or may not, be in work.
At the moment, more than three million Universal Credit recipients have no requirement to find work, a number that has risen sharply.
The government says this is unsustainable and that it wants to help more people into jobs.