A benefits expert has warned that people are missing out on PIP (Personal Independence Payment) payments as key terms in the application can be hard to understand. Rebecca Lamb, external relations manager at debt advice group Money Wellness, also warned that claimants are being “incorrectly assessed” as their assessors don’t understand their conditions properly.
The DWP benefit supports individuals who live with a long term health condition or illness, providing payments towards their extra costs for their daily life and/or for their mobility needs. Labour has announced changes to the qualifying rules, with an extra criteria to be added, meaning you will have to get at least one score of 4 on one of the daily living activities to qualify for this part of the payment.
The daily living element is currently worth £72.65 a week at the lower rate or £108.55 a week at the enhanced rate. There is also a separate mobility element for PIP, with which pays £28.70 or £75.75. These rates will increase 1.7% in April.
You currently need a total of eight points across the 10 daily living activities to get the lower rate or a total of 12 points for higher payment, so four scores of 2 would qualify you for the lower rate. Yet for many of the activities, the difference between scoring a 2 and getting a 4 is just a few words.
For example, for the ‘Managing toilet needs or incontinence’ activity, you will get 2 points if you need “supervision or prompting” to manage your toilet needs’, whereas you can get 4 points if you need “assistance” with this activity. There is a similar difference of language and the points you will score for other questions, such as the question about how much help you need with washing and bathing.
Ms Lamb said there is a “significant difference” between needing ‘supervision’ and needing ‘assistance’ but the distinction is “not always well-communicated”. She explained: “Many people are unaware that supervision relates to needing someone to be present for safety reasons, while assistance refers to physical help with a task.
“We often hear customers say that without help, they struggle or can’t complete the application forms because they are so tricky and long.” Claimants are commonly assessed to determine the points they should get and the level of help they need. But Ms Lamb said there are often mistakes here: “Many claimants who need supervision are incorrectly assessed because assessors don’t understand the risks involved or the level of support needed.”
The new eligibility rules are set to come in from November 2026. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said there are 1,000 PIP claims a week, and the costs of the payments is “unsustainable”. The PIP handbook, which provides extensive details about how to apply, provides these definitions for supervision, prompting and assistance:
Ms Lamb also warned that the application process is not suited to the full range of different conditions that people can have. She warned: “Disability is different for everyone; what one person struggles with might be less of a concern for another.
“This confusion can lead to inaccurate applications, delays, and unfair outcomes. A more simplified process is needed to ensure claimants access the support they need.” She said the system could be improved with dedicated advice sessions or helplines, to assist people in filling in the form.
She also raised concerns about the proposals to change the eligibility rules. Ms Lamb said: “Tightening eligibility criteria or reducing financial support could leave people financially vulnerable. Claimants already face significant stress navigating the PIP system. Any reforms must prioritise fairness, clarity, and accessibility to make sure those who need support receive it without unnecessary barriers.”
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