DWP PIP Reforms to Affect Up to 800,000 Claimants

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will introduce significant changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility from November 2026, requiring claimants to earn at least four points in a single daily living activity instead of accumulating eight points across all activities. This change may result in large numbers of current claimants—such as 79% of those with back pain and 71% with chronic pain syndromes—becoming ineligible for PIP. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that up to 800,000 claimants could be affected by the overhaul. However, around 700,000 people of State Pension age and those nearing the end of life will be exempt from these reforms, as they are not routinely reviewed or will continue to receive fast-tracked PIP support. DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms has emphasized these exemptions and stated that further details and analyses will be published. The changes remain subject to parliamentary approval and ongoing government review.