Labour says PIP claimants losing £4,500 'can manage with small interventions'

A DWP minister has doubled down on a decision to cut benefits for hundreds of thousands of PIP claimants, saying people losing out on payments can manage their health condition with "small interventions".

(Personal Independence Payment) is intended to help cover the extra cost of people with a long-term health condition or disability.

The benefit includes a mobility element and a daily living element with a lower and higher rate for each part, depending on how much you are affected in either area.

In efforts to curb the rising benefits bill, Labour has for the daily living part, which is currently paid at £73.90 a week or £110.40 a week.

If you lost out on these payments your yearly income would drop by £3,842.80 or £5,740.80. The changes are coming in from November 2026, after next April's benefits increase, so the shortfall could be more, with the Government estimate the average drop in benefits for those who lose out will be £4,500 a year.

An additional rule will mean you have to get at least one score of 4 on one of the daily living activities to qualify, whereas now you just need a total score across all the activities of either 8 for the lower amount or 12 for the higher payment.

This would mean you could consistently score 2s, such as needing aid or supervision to eat or with bathing, and still not qualify.

Many Labour MPs have opposed the plans, including Richard Burgon, who branded the cuts a "disgraceful attack on some of the poorest people in our society".

He asked the Government in a written question in Parliament to explain its reasoning for the changes to PIP. DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms said in response: "A high number of people get PIP by having multiple but low-level functional needs across several activities.

"These could individually be managed with small interventions or the addition of aids or appliances. This change will focus PIP more on those with the greatest needs, ensuring those who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them, still get support."

DWP estimates suggest the changes could see 370,000 current claimants lose out when they have their award review while 430,000 future claimants will also lose out on what they would have got.

The Government said "a significant proportion" of these people with still be eligible for the mobility component, which currently pays £29.20 or £77.05 a week.

Charities have raised concerns that the changes to PIP could have a major impact on people's finances. Rebecca Lamb, external relations manager at , said: "PIP is designed to help individuals manage the extra costs of living with a disability, and tightening eligibility will mean many will lose out on vital support.

"This isn't just a minor policy adjustment-it's a major shift that could push some of the most vulnerable into financial difficulty."

The group warned that customers often say they struggle to complete the PIP application form because of how complex it is, and that language used in assessments is often not clearly explained.