Starting April 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will extend the length of awards for new claims of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to help reduce the current backlog of assessments.
PIP is the primary disability benefit available to working-age individuals who require additional support with everyday activities due to illness, disability, or mental health conditions. Eligibility is determined not by the condition itself, but by its impact on the claimant’s daily life.
Currently, PIP awards can be granted for as little as nine months. Under the new changes, most new claimants aged 25 and over will receive a minimum award period of three years. If they continue to qualify, this period may be extended to five years at the time of their next review.
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The DWP explains that this extension will allow healthcare professionals to focus on conducting more face-to-face assessments and reassessments, thereby improving the efficiency of the system.
These changes operate independently of the Timms Review, which is set to evaluate the overall role of PIP, including eligibility criteria for daily living and mobility components, as well as the assessment processes.
PIP consists of two components: the daily living component and the mobility component. The weekly rates are as follows:
- Daily Living: £73.90 for the standard rate, £110.40 for the enhanced rate.
- Mobility: £29.20 for the standard rate, £77.05 for the enhanced rate.
Claimants must inform the DWP if their health condition changes. Terminally ill individuals typically receive PIP automatically without assessment, with the award lasting three years before review.
PIP is available to individuals aged 16 up to state pension age. If a claimant reaches state pension age while receiving PIP, their claim usually continues, and they may also be eligible to make a new claim if they were entitled to PIP in the past 12 months.