The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has put proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on hold until a review of the eligibility and assessment process is completed.

The Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, will work alongside disabled groups and charities to conduct the review, which is expected to be finished by next Autumn.

According to the DWP, over 1,000 new PIP awards are being issued daily, with the latest statistics revealing that there are now over 3.8 million claimants in England and Wales receiving between £29.20 and £187.45 each week.

The data also indicates that more than 1.5 million (39%) of all 3.8 million PIP claimants have been granted an award of five years or longer. More than 58 per cent of people claiming PIP for a visual disease receive a monthly award of up to £749 for five years or more.

Over half of all claimants with general musculoskeletal conditions (50.8%), such as arthritis, muscle or joint pain, have been given a longer award, along with 49.5 per cent of people with a neurological condition like epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy.

For Brits considering submitting a fresh claim for PIP it’s crucial to understand that award durations vary and can span from nine months to a decade, though DWP records only document awards granted for ‘five years or longer’, reports the Daily Record.

DWP guidelines detail how decision makers will determine a PIP award based on how the applicant’s health condition or disability affects their daily routine and capacity for independent living. The guidance states: “The length of award will be based upon each claimant’s individual circumstances.”

It’s vital to recognise that DWP guidance also indicates most recipients will undergo regular award reviews, “regardless of the length of the award” to ensure “everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support”.

Certain recipients will receive a fixed-term award for a set duration of up to two years – the DWP confirms these awards won’t face review. Fixed awards without review dates are allocated where the recipient’s health condition might reasonably be anticipated to improve.

Ongoing awards with a ‘light touch’ review

A ‘light touch’ review is typically awarded to claimants who have:

• very stable needs which are unlikely to change over time
• high level needs which will either stay the same or get worse
• a planned award review date due on or at State Pension age
• a special rules for end of life claim due when of State Pension age

The DWP guidance states: “These claimants would not usually be expected to have a face-to-face assessment at review.”

PIP payments currently range from £29.20 to £187.45 per week, equating to approximately £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. Over the financial year, this could result in Brits on the highest awards receiving an additional £9,747 in cash assistance.

It’s crucial to note that the maximum amount of £749.80 is based on someone receiving the highest award for both the daily living and mobility components.

Six conditions with PIP award of five years or longer

It’s important to understand that people with varying health conditions can be awarded PIP for up to five years or more. The award is determined by how the condition affects the claimant.

The conditions listed below have the highest percentage rate of five-year or longer awards given to claimants as of the end of July 2025.

Visual disease

59,609 claimants

34,692 claimants awarded a Light Touch review

58 per cent of claimants with an award of five years or longer

Musculoskeletal disease (general)

721,575 claimants

341,434 claimants awarded a Light Touch review

47 per cent of claimants with an award of five years or longer

Neurological disease

484,872 claimants

230,412 claimants awarded a Light Touch review

47.5 per cent of claimants with an award of five years or longer

Respiratory disease

140,065 claimants

64,835 claimants awarded a Light Touch review

46.2 per cent of claimants with an award of five years or longer

Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders)

20,576 claimants

8,697 claimants awarded a Light Touch review

42.3 per cent of claimants with an award of five years or longer

Musculoskeletal disease (regional)

458,583 claimants

185,916 claimants awarded a Light Touch review

40,5 per cent of claimants with an award of five years or longer

Total number of PIP claimants

3,829,571 claimants

1,501,215 claimants awarded a Light Touch review

39.2 per cent of claimants with an award of five years or longer

Below is a summary of PIP.

Who might be eligible for PIP?

To qualify for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you:

• have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
• expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months

You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.

In addition to what we’ve outlined above, if you require assistance with any of the following due to your condition, you should consider applying for PIP.

• eating, drinking or preparing food
• washing, bathing, using the toilet, managing incontinence
• dressing and undressing
• talking, listening, reading and understanding
• managing your medicines or treatments
• making decisions about money
• mixing with other people
• working out a route and following it
• physically moving around
• leaving your home

There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.

The DWP will assess how challenging you find daily living and mobility tasks. They will examine each task individually.

For each task they will look at:

• whether you can do it safely
• how long it takes you
• how often your condition affects this activity
• whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

How is PIP paid?

PIP is usually paid every four weeks unless you’re terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account.

PIP payment rates

You will need an assessment to determine the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to ensure you are getting the right support. Payments are made every four weeks.

PIP is comprised of two components:

Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.

You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:

Daily living

• Standard: £73.90
• Enhanced: £110.40

Mobility

• Standard: £29.20
• Enhanced: £77.05

How you are assessed

You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP.

Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments – it’s important to be aware the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.

How do you make a claim for PIP?

You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.

Before you call, you will need:

• your contact details
• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number – this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits
• your bank or building society account number and sort code
• your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
• dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital