Overview

• The UK government plans to revise Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility criteria starting November 2026, requiring claimants to score at least four points in one daily living activity.
• Internal forecasts project that 3.2 million families, including 700,000 already in poverty, will be affected by the changes, with 800,000 individuals losing PIP eligibility by 2029/30.
• Financial losses could average £4,500 annually for those losing PIP, with some households losing up to £12,000 if they lose related benefits like Carer's Allowance and Universal Credit elements.
• Critics, including MPs and disability advocates, warn that the changes disproportionately disadvantage those with fluctuating, invisible, or mental health conditions, while favoring claimants with severe physical impairments.
• A potential loophole in the new rules could subject state pension-age claimants to stricter criteria, despite assurances, raising concerns about transitional protections and review processes.