Big Changes Loom for PIP Claimants Across Britain
A storm is brewing over disability benefits in the UK. New government plans, confirmed by fresh analysis from the Liberal Democrats, warn that as many as 1.3 million people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) could see their payments vanish when new rules kick in from November 2026. That’s not a small tweak—it’s a shake-up that could leave some of the country’s most vulnerable residents without vital support.
The heart of the reform is simple but devastating for many: claimants will have to score at least 4 points in a single 'daily living' activity, on top of the existing requirement to rack up 8 points across all activities. For people whose day-to-day difficulties are spread out instead of focused in one area, this could spell disaster. Many simply won’t meet the bar under the new system.
A detailed map, sourced from government data and the Lib Dem analysis, paints a stark picture. Areas already struggling with high levels of poverty and deprivation face the biggest blow. Liverpool Walton stands to lose the most: around 5,000 people there could have their benefits cut. Not far behind are Blackpool South and Liverpool Riverside, with thousands more at risk in each.
Who Loses Out—and By How Much?
Zoom in on the numbers and the size of the threat grows even bigger. The analysis estimates that PIP cuts could hit 87% of those on the lower PIP rate. Even those on the enhanced rate—which pays £110.40 per week—aren’t safe, with 13% potentially losing their entitlement. For some families, that adds up to losing more than £10,000 every single year. That kind of hit isn’t just tough—it’s life-changing.
The concern isn’t limited to spreadsheets and statistics. Charities, disability campaigners, and MPs from across the political spectrum say these cuts could force 400,000 people into poverty. That figure is even higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility’s own estimate, which sits at a staggering 250,000.
The problem runs deep. Of the 3.7 million PIP claimants across England and Wales as of early 2025, a huge chunk—42%—receive enhanced payments because of psychiatric conditions. For those with neurological diseases, that number jumps to 51%. These groups are particularly at risk from the new scoring system and could see their support slashed.
And don’t forget workers. Nearly 60% of working PIP claimants could lose out or face smaller payments. That means people juggling jobs and disabilities may get caught in the crossfire, struggling even more to make ends meet.
There’s been some political backpedaling on the legal side: the government’s June 2025 Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill dropped the most controversial PIP reform clauses at the last minute. But with the Department for Work and Pensions still reviewing the data and weighing up options, the threat hasn’t disappeared.
Outside experts are alarmed, too. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation figures show 370,000 current PIP daily living recipients and 430,000 future claimants could all be on the line for losing their payments—an average loss of £4,500 each, every year. Add in looming Universal Credit health cuts, and about 2.25 million disabled people could lose £500 a year, with new claimants losing several thousand more.
Caregivers won’t escape the fallout either. Cuts to carer benefits are projected to slice £500 million from national support, hitting around 150,000 households who already manage on tight budgets.
The bottom line? This isn’t just about numbers on a page—it’s about thousands of people, mainly in the hardest-pressed corners of the UK, bracing for major upheaval. As the clock ticks towards November 2026, the anxiety is growing, and so are the calls for a rethink.
