I'm absolutely fuming this morning. Just spilled coffee all over my keyboard while reading teh latest FOI request about PIP benefits. My sister-in-law has been on PIP for three years now, and this news hit me like a brick.
Listen. The government is about to pull the rug out from under OVER A MILLION disabled people. Not next month. Not next year. But from November 2026. That's when their new "assessment criteria" kicks in - and it's brutal.
The Numbers Are Staggering (And They Don't Even Match Up)
A disability rights group called Benefits and Work just got their hands on some shocking data through a Freedom of Information request. According to the DWP's own numbers, around 1,325,000 people currently receiving PIP will lose access when these changes hit.
That's not me being dramatic. That's literally what the data shows.
Weirdly, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimates "only" 800,000 people will lose out by 2029/30. Only 800,000! As if that makes it better? The government can't even agree on how many lives they're about to upend.
Back in 2018, I interviewed a woman who'd spent 14 months fighting for her PIP after being wrongly assessed. She ended up winning £4K in backpay. God. I wonder what she's thinking now.
What's Actually Changing?
Right now, PIP assessments look at how difficult you find various daily living and mobility tasks. You get points based on your needs, and if you score enough overall, you qualify for either the standard or enhanced rate.
From November next year, you'll need to score at least 4 points in ONE SPECIFIC daily living activity AND get a minimum overall score of 8 points.
I texted my friend who works at a disability charity about this. His response: "Already updating my resume. Can't face telling our service users."
Who's Getting Cut Off?
According to the FOI response, around 209,000 people currently on the higher rate of the daily living component will lose out completely.
And here's where it gets worse... approximately 1,116,000 people on the lower daily living rate will see their payments slashed.
I feel stupid now for thinking the cost of living support was actually going to help vulnerable people long-term. Silly me.
What Even Is PIP? (For Those Lucky Enough Not to Need It)
Personal Independence Payment is for people aged 16+ but under state pension age who need help with daily activities or getting around due to long-term illness or disability.
Unlike Universal Credit, it's not means-tested. Your bank balance doesn't matter - it's based purely on your needs. Or at least it was.
The standard rate for daily living is currently £73.90 weekly, with enhanced at £110.40. For mobility, it's £29.20 and £77.05 respectively.
So someone with high needs could get up to £187.45 a week. Which sounds like a lot until you realize how much extra it costs to live with a disability. Special equipment, taxis when you can't use public transport, higher heating bills... (My cousin spends nearly that much just on specialized care products that aren't covered by the NHS.)
A Tiny Silver Lining in This Nightmare?
The DWP is apparently "consulting" on exempting people with severe conditions from constant reassessments.
They're also considering raising the transition age from DLA (for kids) to PIP from 16 to 18.
But that's like offering someone a Band-Aid after you've pushed them down the stairs.
I reached out to the DWP for comment. No response yet. Shocking.
This whole thing makes me wonder who exactly is making these decisions. Have they ever spent a day with someone who relies on PIP? Have they calculated how many people will be pushed into poverty? Or do they just see numbers on a spreadsheet?
My editor bet me £20 I couldn't write this piece without using more colorful language. I just lost that bet.
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