DWP confirms £5,740.80 PIP Cuts: Check are you in the List

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that upcoming cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will not apply to people living in one part of the UK—Scotland. While these changes are set to affect new applicants and those having their PIP reviewed in the rest of the UK, Scotland has a different system in place for disability support.

Key Changes to PIP Eligibility

Starting from November 2026, individuals in the rest of the UK applying for PIP or those who have a review at the end of their fixed term will need to score at least four points in the activities assessed for the daily living part of PIP. This change could impact thousands, with an estimated 800,000 people potentially losing their PIP as a result. The daily living element of PIP can be worth up to £5,740.80 annually.

Scotland’s Exemption from PIP Cuts

However, the situation is different in Scotland. Since PIP is being replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP) for those needing long-term health condition support, Scottish residents will not be affected by the changes introduced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper by Labour. This is because ADP, which also includes a daily living element, will not include the restrictions that are being applied to PIP in the rest of the UK.

As of January 2025, there were still 35,404 people in Scotland receiving PIP, but this number is expected to decrease as more people transition to ADP. Regardless of this transfer, those in Scotland will not be impacted by the cuts to PIP.

Challenges with Universal Credit and the Health Element in Scotland

While ADP protects Scottish residents from the PIP changes, there are still concerns about other reforms. Labour’s proposal to scrap the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), used to determine eligibility for extra Universal Credit for those too ill to work, could cause confusion. The WCA is set to be replaced by a new health element in 2029/2030, which will be awarded to those already receiving the daily living element of PIP.

However, as there is no PIP system in Scotland, questions remain about how the health element of Universal Credit will be applied to Scottish claimants. The DWP has stated that they aim to ensure Scottish claimants are not at a disadvantage and are working with the Scottish Government to ensure no one is left behind when the new changes are implemented.

The planned cuts to PIP will not affect people in Scotland, thanks to the introduction of Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which replaces PIP for those with long-term health conditions. While Scottish residents won’t be impacted by the eligibility cuts to PIP, there are ongoing discussions about how upcoming changes to Universal Credit will apply. The DWP is currently working with the Scottish Government to ensure no one is disadvantaged by these changes, especially as Scotland’s disability benefits differ from those in the rest of the UK.

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FAQs

1. Why won’t the PIP cuts affect people in Scotland?

Scotland is exempt from the PIP cuts because PIP is being replaced by Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which is not subject to the same eligibility restrictions.

2. How does Adult Disability Payment (ADP) affect Scottish claimants?

ADP is a Scottish disability benefit that offers similar support to PIP but is not impacted by the cuts planned for the rest of the UK. Scottish claimants will continue to receive support without the new restrictions.

3. Will people in Scotland be impacted by the changes to Universal Credit?

There are concerns about how Universal Credit’s health element will work in Scotland, as PIP doesn’t exist there. The DWP is working with the Scottish Government to ensure no one is disadvantaged by these changes.

4. When will the new PIP eligibility restrictions come into effect?

The new restrictions will apply from November 2026, affecting new applicants and those with upcoming reviews of their PIP awards.

5. What other changes are being proposed in the Pathways to Work Green Paper?

Labour is proposing to scrap the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and replace it with a health element in Universal Credit, set to be introduced in 2029/2030. However, how this will apply in Scotland is still under discussion.