Most at risk health conditions that could see PIP payments cut under new Labour rules ...Middle East

MORE than a million Brits battling chronic conditions such as back pain and arthritis could lose their benefits under tough new Labour plans.

Almost half of all working-age Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants are at risk of being stripped of their support from November 2026.

PIP is a benefit currently worth up to £108 per week and paid to those who have extra needs as a result of suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition.

However, in a move that that will affect millions of claimants, the DWP is next year set to tighten the criteria for claiming PIP.

Under the proposed changes, applicants will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one specific daily living activity to qualify for the benefit.

Points are given based on the difficulty of completing everyday tasks such as preparing food, washing and dressing among others.

This marks a shift from the current system, which allows individuals to qualify with a lower overall score spread across multiple activities.

The changes are set to hit older working-age adults and those suffering with physical conditions facing the biggest cuts.

An FOI carried out by advice website Benefits and Work showed a staggering 154,000 people with back pain as their main health issue are likely to lose their PIP under Labour’s stricter rules.

Those living with arthritis aren’t far behind, with 214,000 claimants at risk.

This is followed by 118,000 chronic pain sufferers and 97,000 people with musculoskeletal diseases, many of whom are still in work or have spent most of their lives employed.

In total, 1.3million working-age PIP claimants are expected to fail the new tests.

Here’s who’s most at risk:

Those least at risk include people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders.

People with severe conditions will be exempt from undergoing further reassessments, according to the government.

Currently, disability living allowance (DLA) is provided to children under the age of 16, after which they transition to PIP.

The review will also explore the possibility of raising the transition age from 16 to 18.

The changes are part of Labour’s wider crackdown on welfare spending, announced in the Spring Statement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

What is PIP and how much can you get

JAMES FLANDERS explains what PIP is and how much you can get from claiming it:

People suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition get extra help through PIP.

The maximum you can receive from the Government benefit is £187.45 a week.

The benefit is available to those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66.

Importantly, you must have a health condition or disability that has caused difficulties with daily living, mobility, or both for at least three months.

PIP is made up of two parts and whether you get one or both of these depends on how severely your condition affects you.

You may get the mobility part of PIP if you need help going out or moving around.

The weekly rate for this is either £29.20 or £77.05.

On the daily living part of PIP, the weekly rate is either £73.90 or £110.40 – and you could get both elements.

In addition to the benefit itself, receiving PIP can unlock a range of additional perks and discounts, such as Blue Badge parking permits and reductions on council tax.

You can find out more here

Critics argue that the new tests are a blunt tool and risk punishing people with invisible or fluctuating conditions who rely on PIP to maintain a basic standard of living.

It comes after the Chancellor vowed to “re-balance the system” and said: “If you can work, you should work.”

More welfare cuts

Reeves expects to claw back £4.8billion a year through the PIP clampdown and other changes, with the tougher criteria accounting for the biggest share of those savings.

Campaigners say the reforms unfairly target older, hard-working Brits who are still managing chronic conditions while staying in jobs.

The government says a new “Right to Work Guarantee” will also be brought in, allowing people to try returning to work without instantly losing benefits if it proves too much.

The Department for Work and Pensions is now gearing up for a full review of the assessment process, as thousands brace for a fresh round of benefit reviews in 2026.

Big changes are also on the cards for Universal Credit and sickness benefits.

The chancellor confirmed the incapacity element of Universal Credit that is currently worth £416 a month, will be slashed in half for new claims from April 2026, and frozen until 2030.

The Work Capability Assessment will be scrapped by 2028, meaning claimants will have to rely on tougher PIP tests to qualify for health support.

From April 2026, new sick claimants will only get half the current rate, dropping from £416 a month to just £208.

And under-22s will be banned altogether from claiming the UC health top-up.

Meanwhile, a new “Unemployment Insurance” benefit will replace ESA and JSA, with strict time limits and payments based on National Insurance contributions.

While some households will get temporary, above-inflation rises to the standard Universal Credit rate, campaigners say many disabled and long-term sick Brits could end up worse off under the shake-up.

What are Work Capability Assessments?

The DWP uses the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to evaluate a claimant's ability to work when applying for Universal Credit due to a health condition or disability.

The WCA focuses on assessing functional limitations rather than specific medical diagnoses.

It considers both physical and mental health, awarding points based on how an individual’s condition impacts their ability to carry out daily activities.

After the assessment, claimants may be placed into one of two groups – Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).

Claimants assigned to the LCW group are recognised as currently unfit for work but may be capable of returning to employment in the future with the right support and assistance.

Those in this group are required to engage in work-related activities, such as attending Jobcentre appointments or training courses.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in sanctions, including a reduction or suspension of benefits.

Claimants are placed in the LCWRA group if their health condition or disability is considered so severe that they are not expected to be able to work or participate in any work-related activities in the foreseeable future.

Those in the LCWRA group receive an additional amount on top of their standard Universal Credit allowance currently worth £416.19 a month.

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