PIP assessment rule changes: everything you need to know

PIP stands for Personal Independence Payment, and is a way for people aged between 16 and State Pension with disabilities to get extra financial support. People under the age of 16 can make a claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and people over State Pension age can apply for Attendance Allowance (AA). PIP, DLA and AA are all non means-tested, and people can receive PIP whether they’re in work or not. PIP comes in two parts:

• The daily living component - if you need help with everyday tasks, such as washing, cooking, socialising and managing your money.

• The mobility component — if you need help getting around, such as leaving your home and following a planned route. Some people may be eligible for the Motability scheme if they qualify for this part of PIP, to help them buy or lease a car.

Recent weeks have seen major developments relating to proposed changes to PIP. The UK Government had previously announced intentions to change some elements of PIP during the 2025 Spring Statement, particularly focusing on the daily living part with an aim for the Department for Work & Pensions to ​‘support those with the highest needs’ through stricter eligibility rules, such as needing at least four points in one daily living activity. 

However, in a major U‑turn during a recent parliamentary vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on 1 July 2025, the UK Government announced plans to not proceed with these specific changes to PIP eligibility criteria at this time. The clauses in the Bill that would have introduced these stricter rules have been removed. Any future changes to PIP eligibility will now only be considered after a wider review of the benefit, which is expected to report by autumn 2026 and will be led by the Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms. It will also be co-produced with disabled people and organisations that represent them.

This means the immediate threat of stricter eligibility for PIP, including the proposed four-point rule, has been removed from the current legislation.

Part of the original PIP announcements in March included suggested changes to the assessment criteria. There are several activities which are assessed which you can get different numbers of points for. Currently, you have to reach a certain threshold of overall points.

Part of the original proposed changes included needing to score at least four or more points in at least one of the categories in the PIP daily living section, if you were applying for the first time or renewing your PIP. This would have meant that if someone scored three or less in all of the activity categories, they would have no longer been eligible.

After the major developments during the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on 1 July 2025, the Government made a U‑turn, meaning that if you are currently claiming PIP, you won’t be affected. 

For people on low incomes or are unable to work, Universal Credit helps with living costs. Some people receive an extra amount if their disability or health condition impacts their work, also called the health element of Universal Credit. 

Original proposed changes to Universal Credit meant that for people already receiving the Universal Credit health element, this payment would have remained frozen until 2029–30. But during the vote of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, the Government reversed the plans to freeze the higher rate of Universal Credit for people who already claim the health element, but proposed new claimants would still get reduced payments. 

The original proposed changes to PIP would have impacted people currently receiving the carers’ entitlement of Universal Credit and Carer’s Allowance, as over half of those awards are linked to PIP. Approximately 150,000 carers were set to lose financial support worth over £4,000 annually. 

Like we mentioned earlier, PIP is split into two parts, and what you’ll receive (usually every four weeks) is based on how difficult you find it to either do daily tasks (the daily living component) or get around (the mobility component).

Understandably, many people will be worried about the changes to PIP right now, but we want to make sure you get the support you need. If you’re looking for more information about PIP, you can find it at gov.uk. If you’re looking for financial and emotional support, here are some useful links: