The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced regulatory changes that will extend the minimum period between health assessments for existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants to three years, rising to five years at subsequent reviews if entitlement remains. This change, which already applies to new claims, is expected to benefit nearly four million people.
The DWP estimates the reforms will save approximately £300 million overall, with £230 million attributed to changes for existing claimants. The government states the move will free up health professionals to conduct more face-to-face assessments and address the assessment backlog.
PIP is the main disability benefit for working-age people in the UK, based on how a condition affects daily life rather than the condition itself. Since 2016, nearly 60% of award reviews in England and Wales resulted in no change.
Disabilities Minister Sir Stephen Timms said: “Reforming the welfare system so that it better meets the needs of disabled people is a priority for the government. This will make the system more efficient by freeing up the capacity of health professionals to tackle our inherited assessment backlog, while removing unnecessary pressure from disabled claimants whose conditions rarely change at each review.”
The changes are separate from a broader review led by Sir Stephen examining PIP’s role, eligibility criteria, and assessment process. The DWP has also increased the proportion of face-to-face PIP assessments from 6% in 2024 to 30%.
Disability charities have welcomed the reduced assessment frequency but expressed concerns about the increase in face-to-face reviews. Harriet Edwards of Sense said the process is “long, complicated, and emotionally distressing,” while Fazilet Hadi of Disability Rights UK noted that reviews “just cause anxiety” and that face-to-face assessments can be “physically and emotionally challenging.”
