Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants in each subgroup of psychiatric disorders recorded as the main disabling condition who were awarded (a) more than 12 points in the living component but fewer than four points in a single daily living category were awarded a score of at least two in (i) six , (ii) seven, (iii) eight, (iv) nine and (v) ten of the daily living categories in 2024.

The table below shows the volume of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants who were awarded more than 12 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in all daily living activities, broken down by the number of daily living activities in which they were awarded a score of at least two. This is provided for all PIP clearances which took place in 2024, for all PIP claimants and broken down by condition for those PIP claimants with a psychiatric disorder as their main disabling condition. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 1: Selected detail on PIP point scores for PIP claimants with more than 12 daily living points but fewer than 4 points in all daily living activities

Source: DWP Administrative Data

Notes:

• Data only includes claimants living in regions under DWP policy ownership (England, Wales and Abroad).
• Figures are for assessments from both initial decisions and award reviews, with the date of assessment decision and clearance in 2024.
• Data includes normal rules claimants only, and excludes special rules for end of life (SREL) claimants as they typically receive maximum or very high scores.
• Data only includes working age claimants.
• Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Values greater than 0 but below 5 have been replaced with a dash.
• Totals may not sum due to rounding.

The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who didn’t score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment – not least as many conditions tend to get worse, not better, over time. Under the current eligibility criteria, 19% of award reviews over the last 5 years have resulted in an increased award. After accounting for behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 out 10 PIP recipients at the time of policy implementation are expected to be unaffected by the PIP 4-point change in 2029/30.

Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected.

The change includes a run-on of PIP entitlement for 13 weeks as a financial protection, which will apply to claimants who lose entitlement on award review because of the new requirement. This run-on will extend to passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance and the UC carer’s element. Claimants will continue to receive these awards during the run on period.

Even with these reforms, the overall number of working age people on PIP/DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this Parliament and spending will rise from £23 billion in 24/25 to £31 billion in 29/30.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.