Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants were awarded (a) 12 or more points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category, (b) 22 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category, (c) 19 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category and (d) 41 points or more in the daily living component in 2024.

In 2024, 62,370 PIP claimants were awarded 12 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition is provided in Table 1 below. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 1: Volume of PIP claimants who scored 12 or more points total in Daily Living activities, but scored less than 4 points in all questions by Psychiatric Disorder

In 2024, 10 claimants were awarded PIP and scored 19 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition cannot be provided, as all values are less than 5 and must therefore be omitted to protect against claimant identification.

It is not possible to score more than 21 points across all Daily Living activities while scoring fewer than 4 points in each activity, therefore there are no claimants who scored 22 points across all Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity.

In 2024, 6,160 claimants were awarded PIP and scored 41 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition is provided in Table 2 below. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 2: Volume of PIP claimants who scored 41 or more points total in Daily Living activities

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.

Notes:

- The data provided have been rounded to the nearest 10. Values greater than 0 but lower than 5 have been replaced with a dash.

- The data provided covers claimants who fall under DWP policy ownership only (England, Wales and Abroad).

- The data provided includes normal rules claimants only and excludes special rules for end of life (SREL) claimants as they typically receive maximum or very high scores.

- The data provided covers working age claimants only.

- The volumes provided are from assessments for both initial decisions and award reviews, with the assessment decision and clearance in 2024.