Over the past five years, the UK has experienced a significant rise in the number of people receiving health and disability benefits. One in ten working-age adults is now claiming some form of sickness or disability-related support. Since 2019/20, the number of individuals receiving health-related benefits without any requirement to work has surged by 800,000, a 45% increase.
This upward trend is mirrored in the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) caseload, which is projected to double this decade, from 2 million to 4.3 million claimants. Unsurprisingly, this dramatic growth has placed huge pressure on public finances. Spending on working-age sickness and disability benefits has risen by £20 billion since the pandemic, and without reform, it was expected to climb a further £18 billion by 2029/30, reaching £70 billion per year.
Beyond the numbers, there are deeper systemic concerns. A large proportion of claimants remain on benefits for extended periods. Around 26% of those on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or the Universal Credit (UC) health element have been receiving support for more than a decade. At the same time, fewer than 1 in 100 claimants on the UC health element transition into employment each month.
In response, the UK Government is implementing the DWP PIP reforms 2026, a wide-ranging effort to rebalance the welfare system, better focus support on those with the most serious needs, and make work a more viable and attractive option for those who can pursue it.
What Is the 4-Point Rule and How Will It Change PIP Eligibility?
A central feature of the DWP PIP reforms is the introduction of the 4-point rule for the daily living component of PIP. This change, effective from November 2026, applies only to new claimants.
Currently, claimants must score at least 8 points in total across various daily living activities to be eligible. Under the new rule, applicants must also score at least 4 points in a single activity, not just a cumulative total.
This means that someone whose needs are spread thinly across several different activities, each scoring one or two points, may no longer qualify. The reform is designed to ensure that the daily living component is reserved for individuals with more concentrated and severe difficulties in one or more core areas of life.
Key Details of the 4-Point Rule:
- Starts November 2026
- Applies only to new PIP claims
- Claimants must score 4 points or more in one activity (e.g. preparing food, dressing)
- The overall threshold of 8 points remains in place
This change has been justified by the government as a way to focus limited resources on those with the most substantial daily living needs. However, it is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of future applicants.
Will Existing PIP Claimants Be Affected by the New Rules?
Existing PIP recipients will not be subject to the new 4-point rule unless they undergo an award review after November 2026. Until then, their eligibility remains based on the current system.
However, once reviewed, they could potentially lose their entitlement to the daily living component if they fail to meet the new single-activity threshold. Despite this, many may still retain the mobility component, depending on their needs.
Estimated Impact by 2029/30:
- 370,000 current recipients expected to lose the daily living component
- 430,000 future applicants likely to be denied under new rules
- 150,000 carers may lose access to Carer’s Allowance or the UC Carer Element due to these changes
This represents a substantial policy shift and could reshape the landscape of support for people with fluctuating or moderate conditions.
How Will the Timms Review Influence Future PIP Assessments?
Launched in Autumn 2025, the Timms Review is a government-led evaluation of the PIP assessment process. Its findings, due in Autumn 2026, are expected to lay the groundwork for future reforms beyond those already announced.
The review will explore:
- Whether current assessment criteria (activities, descriptors, scoring) fairly reflect claimants’ needs
- How medical and contextual evidence, such as a person’s home environment, can be better incorporated
- The possibility of reducing reliance on face-to-face assessments, shifting to digital, telephone or paper-based evaluations
- How assessments could support access to wider forms of help, including employment support or additional benefits
The government has hinted that changes based on the review could come into effect as early as Spring 2027.
What Will Happen to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)?
The Work Capability Assessment, currently used to determine eligibility for the health element of UC, will be abolished by 2028/29. In its place, entitlement to health-related UC support will be based on receiving the daily living component of PIP.
This effectively creates a single assessment system for both PIP and UC health support.
Key Concerns:
- Currently, only 63% of people receiving the UC health element or ESA also receive PIP or DLA.
- The new model could leave a significant group without access to health-related UC support if they do not meet the PIP daily living threshold.
This integration is intended to simplify the system but risks creating new eligibility gaps, especially for people with mental health conditions or less visible disabilities.
How Is Universal Credit Being Restructured Under the Reforms?
In addition to changes in PIP, the structure of Universal Credit is undergoing a major overhaul beginning April 2026.
| UC Component | Current Policy | Post-Reform Policy (2026–2030) |
| UC Health Element (Existing) | £97/week | Frozen until 2029/30 |
| UC Health Element (New) | £97/week | Reduced to £50/week from 2026/27 |
| UC Standard Allowance | £91/week (for single 25+) | Rises to £106/week by 2029/30 |
The reduction and freeze of the UC health element will significantly affect income levels for many, particularly new claimants. While the increase in the standard allowance will help offset some of this impact, it may not fully compensate for those relying heavily on health-related support.
Claimants on the health element will also be expected to participate in work-related conversations, with exceptions for those in severe circumstances. While there is no requirement to seek or take jobs, sanctions may be applied for failing to engage.
What Is the Financial and Social Impact of These Reforms?
The government estimates that these reforms will lead to £4.8 billion in welfare savings by 2029/30, with £4.5 billion of this coming from sickness and disability benefits.
Estimated Household Impacts:
| Group | Estimated Households | Average Impact |
| Losing financially | 3.2 million | £1,720/year loss |
| Gaining financially | 3.8 million | £420/year gain |
| UC Health (new claimants) | 730,000 | £3,000/year loss |
| PIP recipients losing entitlement | 800,000 | £4,500/year loss |
These figures suggest a redistribution of welfare spending primarily away from disability support and toward more work-focused support. According to government analysis, 96% of families who lose financially from these changes include a person with a disability.
Will These Reforms Help More Disabled People into Work?
Encouraging employment among people with disabilities is a central objective. According to research published in 2025, nearly 200,000 people on health benefits believe they could work now if given the right job and support. A further 1 million say they could work if their health improved.
Moving from inactivity to just 20 hours per week at the National Living Wage could raise a person’s income by over £10,000 per year, more than the highest possible PIP award.
Fiscal and Societal Gains per Person in Work:
| Work Status | Fiscal Benefit | Societal Benefit |
| Full-time work | £18,000/year | £28,000/year |
| Part-time work | £8,000/year | £15,000/year |
These statistics underpin the government’s case that investment in employment support can offer substantial long-term savings and better life outcomes for claimants.
These reforms stem from a wider government strategy to rebalance the welfare system and control rapidly rising costs.
As outlined in the Spring Statement 2025 – Health and Disability Benefit Reforms, the Department for Work and Pensions has detailed how changes to PIP eligibility, Universal Credit, and the Work Capability Assessment are designed to improve both fiscal sustainability and employment outcomes for disabled people.
What Can Claimants Do to Prepare for These Changes?
Navigating the upcoming changes will require proactive preparation, especially for those due for reassessment after November 2026.
Recommendations for Claimants:
- Track reassessment dates and understand when new rules might apply
- Keep medical evidence updated, including doctor’s notes and professional reports
- Stay informed about the Timms Review outcomes and White Paper proposals
- Seek advice from advocacy organisations or Citizens Advice when in doubt
The government has also introduced the “Right to Try” guarantee, which ensures that claimants who attempt work will not be automatically reassessed or lose benefits unless there’s another significant change in circumstance.
FAQs
What is the purpose of the 4-point rule?
To ensure that PIP daily living support is targeted at those with concentrated, higher-level needs in a single area of life.
Are existing PIP claimants affected?
Not immediately. Only those reviewed after November 2026 will be assessed under the new rule.
Is the WCA being abolished?
Yes. By 2028/29, the WCA will be phased out and replaced by a single assessment linked to PIP eligibility.
Will new claimants lose out more than existing ones?
Yes. New UC health element recipients will receive £47/week less than current claimants, with their support frozen through 2029/30.
What if someone doesn’t meet the 4-point rule?
They may no longer qualify for the daily living component but could still receive the mobility component if eligible.
How many people are expected to lose out?
By 2029/30, an estimated 800,000 PIP claimants and 2.25 million UC health recipients could be financially worse off.
Are protections being developed for those with lifelong or severe conditions?
Yes, the government has committed to introducing additional safeguards, though details remain pending.
