More Than a Quarter of PIP 2026/2030 Award Reviews to Result in Daily Living Award Loss Under New 4-Point Rule

News
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has estimated that more than a quarter of personal independence payment (PIP) reviews undertaken between November 2026 and March 2030 under the proposed 4-point rule will result in claimants losing their daily living award.

on 18 June introduces the 4-point rule from a date expected to be November 2026. 

From that date, new claimants will need to score: 

  • at least 8 points, including at least 4 points for a single daily living activity, to get an award of the standard rate of the daily living component; 

  • at least 12 points, including at least 4 points for a single daily living activity, to get an award of the enhanced rate of the daily living component. 

Existing claimants will keep their current award until it is reviewed from November 2026, at which point they will be subject to the 4-point rule.  

So, if you have a review before November 2026, you will be subject to the existing rules, not the 4-point rule.  

However, there has been no indication from the DWP that they will bring forward anyone’s review dates.   

In its supplementary forecast information on the tightening of PIP qualifying criteria, the OBR says that: 

“We expect 1.64 million PIP claimants will have an award review between November 2026 and March 2030.  

Of these, we expect roughly a quarter (430,000) will lose their daily living award as a result of the tightened criteria.  

We expect the net impact of these additional disallow on the caseload to be 390,000 by March 2030 as 40,000 of those disallowed due to the policy would have subsequently left the caseload later in the forecast period.” 

In March 2025, the OBR previously published a lower estimate of1.5 million PIP claimants losing entitlement (32 per cent).  

Note: The DWP has published two impact assessments relating to the new Bill, one outlining its reasons for universal credit changes, the other outlining its reasons for proposed PIP changes. 

Unlike the OBR, neither give detail of these proposals expected impacts. 

Recent new analysis published by Trussell highlights that half a million in disabled households forced into severe hardship by Green paper cuts. 

See also our related news stories:   

 We also have a page dedicated to different factsheets and guides to help you navigate the social security system, with information on PIP, Universal Credit, Work Capability Assessment and more. We know recent news is making applying for the support you need even more daunting, and we want to be there to help you.