By Linda Howard Steve Bagnall
New data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that as of April’s end, approximately 420,000 individuals on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were having their claims reviewed. This includes 380,000 award reviews and 40,000 changes in circumstances.
Currently, over 3.7 million people across England and Wales are claiming PIP. However, many individuals not receiving the maximum PIP may be unaware that if their. condition has worsened and they require more assistance with daily living tasks or mobility needs, or both, they could potentially increase their monthly payments.
PIP is designed to assist people with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition with additional daily living or mobility costs. A successful claim for PIP can result in weekly payments ranging from 拢29.20 to 拢187.45, equating to between 拢116.80 and 拢749.80 every four-week pay period.
The significant discrepancy between the payments is due to the various combinations of the daily living and mobility component rates that a claimant could receive, reports the Daily Record.
Someone could be awarded the highest rate of both and receive the maximum, 拢749.80 every four-week pay period, or the standard rate of both, 拢412.40.
Similarly, someone may only be entitled to the standard rate of the daily living component – 拢73.90 per week, 拢295.60 every four weeks or the standard rate of the mobility component – 拢29.20 per week, 拢116.80 every four weeks.
Someone on the standard rate of the mobility component (拢116.80 every four weeks), with a change in their circumstances, such as a worsening condition or additional health issues, could potentially receive the higher rates of both the daily living and mobility components.
This would result in payments of 拢749.80 every four weeks, an increase of 拢633. Increasing payments from the standard rate to the higher, could boost annual income to 拢9,747.40 over 2025/26.
In another example, someone currently getting the standard rate of both components (拢412.40 per four-week pay period) who reports a change and is awarded the higher rate of both the daily living and mobility components (拢749.80), would gain an extra 拢337.40 each month, some 拢4,386 over the current financial year.
It鈥檚 important to be aware that reporting a change in circumstances to DWP or Social Security Scotland does not guarantee an increase in award. Each case is unique and no single condition affects two people in the same way.
PIP payment rates
PIP is are paid at the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:.
Daily living
Standard rate: 拢73.90 Enhanced rate: 拢110.40
Standard rate: 拢29.20 Enhanced rate: 拢77.05
Reporting a change – PIP
The most important thing to understand about the PIP new claim and review process is awards are based on how your condition, long-term illness or disability affects you – not the actual condition itself. The DWP makes this distinction clear in the current edition of the online PIP Handbook.
The guidance on GOV.UK explains: 鈥淎s the assessment principles consider the impact of a claimant鈥檚 condition on their ability to live independently and not the condition itself, claimants with the same condition may get different outcomes. The outcome is based on an independent assessment and all available evidence.鈥
Before contacting the DWP to report a change in your circumstances, it鈥檚 important to be aware depending on the change, your PIP could go up, go down, stay the same or stop.
Guidance on GOV.UK states you should contact the PIP if:
you need more or less help with daily living and mobility tasks your health professional tells you your condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you reported before your condition has worsened and you鈥檙e not expected to live more than 12 months
How to report a PIP change
Call the 鈥楶IP enquiry line鈥 on 0800 121 4433, lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Full guidance on reporting a change can be found on GOV.UK here.
Before making any request, seek independent advice from organisations such as the Citizens Advice Network because while an award review could result in an increase in payments, it could also see them reduced or even stopped. Find out more here.
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