The Department for Work and Pensions has announced plans to introduce changes to the eligibility criteria and assessment process for Personal Independence Payment starting from November 2026.

These changes will impact both new claimants and existing recipients of the benefit. However, Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms has confirmed that individuals of State Pension age will not be affected by the updates.

According to the DWP‘s latest data, as of the end of April, around 608,346 people between the ages of 65 and 79 were receiving PIP. Those nearing the current State Pension age of 66 are often granted a 10-year award of PIP.

Sir Stephen provided further clarification on how the changes will impact pensioners in his written response to Labour MP Paula Barker’s inquiry about the potential impact of the proposed changes to PIP regulations on individuals of State Pension age.

He explained: “Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in which people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component, will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.”

Sir Stephen added: “In keeping with existing policy, people of State Pension Age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by the proposed changes.”

Discussing the upcoming details regarding the Pathways to Work Green Paper, he said that “information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course” and highlighted that some details were already released with the Spring Statement in March.

He added: “A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.”

Addressing Independent MP Apsana Begum in a separate written reply, the DWP minister said the current reforms for end-of-life PIP applicants remains unchanged.

Talking to the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, Sir Stephen said: “We recognise that people nearing the end of their life are some of the most vulnerable people in society and need fast track and unqualified support at this difficult time.

“People who claim, or an in receipt of, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and are nearing the end of their life with 12 months or less to live, will continue to be able to access the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP.”

He added: “We will also maintain the existing fast-track route under the Special Rules for End of Life and where claims are currently being cleared in two working days. This fast-track route will not be impacted by the new eligibility requirement for PIP.”

The reforms aim to overhaul the welfare system – the DWP says they include:

• Ending reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with lifelong conditions to ensure they can live with dignity and security.
• Providing improved employment support backed by £1 billion including new tailored support conversations for people on health and disability benefits to break down barriers and unlock work.
• Legislating to protect those on health and disability benefits from reassessment or losing their payments if they take a chance on work.
• Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment to end the process that drives people into dependency, delivering on the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to reform or replace it.

Officials say the changes are needed to guarantee the welfare system’s availability for those with the greatest needs now and in the future.

The DWP says the changes include:

• Reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work.
• Targeting PIP for those with higher needs by changing the eligibility requirement to a minimum score of four on at least one of the daily living activities to receive the daily living element of the benefit, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria.
• Rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit to improve the Standard Allowance.
• Consulting on delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until someone is aged 22 and reinvesting savings into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee.

Alongside the publication of the green paper (an early Parliamentary document), the DWP launched an online consultation on the new proposals. The consultation is open to everyone and will run until June 30, 2025 – full details can be found on GOV.UK here.