The Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which provides essential financial support for individuals with disabilities, is undergoing major reforms that will impact eligibility criteria.
Starting in November 2026, these changes are expected to make it more challenging for many people to qualify for the benefit, and could lead to the loss of support for thousands of claimants.
New Requirements for Daily Living Component
Under the revised regulations, applicants must meet stricter criteria to qualify for the daily living component of PIP, which is currently valued at up to £110 per week.
To be eligible, individuals will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity and eight points in total across all areas.
Those who fail to score four points in any of the 10 activity areas will not be eligible for the daily living component. Even if they score four points in one activity but do not achieve a total of eight across the board, they will not qualify for support.
This change will primarily affect individuals who require assistance with basic tasks such as washing, dressing, or using the toilet.
The 10 Daily Living Activities and Their Points System
The table below outlines the 10 daily living activities and the corresponding points system based on the level of assistance required:
| Activity | 4 Points Criteria | 6 Points Criteria | 8 Points Criteria | 10 Points Criteria | 12 Points Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preparing Food | Needs supervision or assistance to cook a simple meal | Cannot prepare food at all | |||
| Taking Nutrition | Needs prompting to take nutrition | Needs assistance for therapeutic nutrition | Cannot convey food or drink to mouth without help | ||
| Managing Therapy or Health Monitoring | Needs help managing therapy (3.5 to 7 hours/week) | Needs help with therapy (7 to 14 hours/week) | Needs help with therapy (more than 14 hours/week) | ||
| Washing and Bathing | Needs assistance to wash from shoulders to waist | Cannot bathe at all, needs full assistance | |||
| Managing Toilet Needs or Incontinence | Needs assistance with toilet needs | Needs help managing incontinence (either bladder or bowel) | Needs help managing both bladder and bowel incontinence | ||
| Dressing and Undressing | Needs assistance with upper body dressing | Cannot dress or undress at all | |||
| Communicating Verbally | Needs support for complex verbal communication | Needs support for basic verbal communication | Cannot express or understand verbal information | ||
| Reading and Understanding Information | Needs prompting to understand basic written information | Cannot read or understand signs, symbols, or words | |||
| Engaging with People Face-to-Face | Needs social support to engage with others | Cannot engage with others due to overwhelming distress | |||
| Making Budgeting Decisions | Needs help making simple budgeting decisions | Cannot make any budgeting decisions |
Key Changes: Impact on Daily Living Assistance
Under the new guidelines, the revised points system will significantly affect individuals requiring assistance with personal care. Some of the activities that may result in individuals losing their eligibility include:
- Washing and bathing: If someone requires assistance to wash their body from the shoulders to the waist, they may score four points, but if they cannot bathe at all, they will score eight points.
- Dressing and undressing: Individuals who need help dressing their upper body will score four points, while those unable to dress themselves at all will score eight points.
Will You Be Affected?
Individuals who rely on PIP support for daily living needs, such as those with difficulty preparing food, managing personal care, or communicating, may find it increasingly difficult to meet the new points thresholds.
- Preparing food: Applicants who need assistance with cooking a simple meal will score four points. However, those who cannot prepare food at all will score eight points and may remain eligible.
- Engaging socially: Those requiring social support to interact with others will score four points. However, if face-to-face engagement leads to psychological distress or poses a risk of harm, they could score eight points.
These changes, set to take effect in November 2026, could have far-reaching consequences for many who are already struggling with daily tasks due to disability or long-term health conditions.
These significant changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility criteria are designed to streamline the process but could result in many claimants losing their benefits.
With the updated points system set to be implemented by November 2026, it is essential for applicants to be aware of these new requirements.
Those who require assistance with daily tasks such as eating, washing, or dressing should ensure they understand how these changes may impact their eligibility and plan accordingly.
FAQs
What happens if I fail to score enough points under the new PIP rules?
Under the revised PIP regulations, if you do not score at least four points in any one activity and a total of eight points overall, you will not be eligible for the daily living component of PIP.
When will the new PIP changes come into effect?
The updated criteria for PIP eligibility will take effect starting in November 2026. It’s crucial for claimants to stay informed about these changes.
How can I prepare for the new PIP assessment?
To prepare, make sure you understand the updated points system and the activities that will be evaluated. Ensure you document any assistance you need in your daily tasks, as it may affect your eligibility.