Slipping through the safety net: Thousands to lose PIP under 2026 benefit reforms
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Thousands of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants are set to lose out under sweeping reforms planned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), due to come into effect in November 2026.
The changes, championed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, could hit individuals with chronic pain and long-term conditions the hardest.
At the heart of the reform is a shift in eligibility criteria. Currently, to receive the daily living component of PIP, claimants must score at least eight points across ten key questions assessing their ability to manage daily tasks. Under the new rules, however, they must also score at least four points in a single question - a requirement many current recipients do not meet.
New DWP data has laid bare the impact this could have. Alarmingly, 79% of claimants citing back pain as their primary condition would no longer qualify under the revised criteria. Similarly, 71% of those with chronic pain syndromes, 62% with cardiovascular disease, and 55% with respiratory diseases fall short of the new four-point threshold.
A System Under Strain
These figures suggest that individuals with "invisible illnesses" - conditions that can severely impact quality of life without always manifesting in obvious or consistent physical limitations - may be disproportionately affected.
Other affected groups include:
Musculoskeletal diseases: 71% potentially ineligible
Multiple sclerosis and neuropathic conditions: 48%
Neurological and cerebrovascular diseases: Up to 36%
Cancer: 33%
Autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities: 6% and 3%, respectively
While the mobility element of PIP - currently £29.20 (standard) or £77.05 (enhanced) per week - remains untouched, the daily living component, which offers up to £110.40 weekly, is where cuts will bite. It’s this portion that covers essential daily activities such as preparing food, taking medication, bathing, dressing, and engaging with others.
Who Will Suffer?
Critics argue the reform will disproportionately harm those with fluctuating or less visible symptoms, such as mental health disorders, long-COVID, and chronic fatigue syndrome. These claimants may manage some tasks on good days, but not reliably or safely - a nuance the new "four-point minimum per task" rule may fail to account for.
Mental health charities have also raised the alarm, warning that conditions like ADHD (19% potentially ineligible), psychotic disorders (23%), and other psychiatric illnesses (28%) could become overlooked.
"This reform risks turning a lifeline into a lottery," said one advocacy group representative. "It fundamentally misunderstands how complex disabilities manifest in everyday life."
A Changing Landscape
The government has framed the changes as part of a broader effort to reduce fraud, ensure fairness, and target support more effectively. But the data suggests that those most at risk of losing support are not fraudsters, but people with genuine and debilitating conditions.
With the reform’s implementation still over a year away, campaigners are urging the government to revisit its approach.
There are calls for a more flexible assessment model that recognises the variability of certain conditions and offers medical professionals greater input into decision-making.
As the 2026 deadline approaches, the focus will increasingly fall on whether the welfare system can still claim to support the most vulnerable - or whether thousands will find themselves pushed to the margins by a test they were never meant to fail.
( Photos: Pixabay Library 📸 )