More than 1.3 million PIP claimants at risk of losing support with worst hit areas revealed

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Government's cuts to Personal Independence Payments could leave 1.3 million people claiming the standard and enhanced-rate payment for daily living activities at risk of losing some support, analysis of the Government’s response to a Liberal Democrat Written Parliamentary Question has revealed.

Under the Government’s plans, from November 2026 people on PIP will be required to score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to receive support with everyday tasks such as washing and cooking. Those scoring less will lose access to the “daily living” component, which for some will result in a full withdrawal of the benefit.

The Government’s response to a Lib Dem Written Parliamentary Question revealed the number of current claimants who did not score at least four points. The figure hit 1.3 million, with 1.1 million standard-rate and 200,000 enhanced-rate claimants at risk. It means that 87% of standard-rate claimants and 13% of the enhanced-rate claimants could lose out.

The analysis also revealed the number of claimants at risk in each constituency. The constituency with the highest number of claimants who could lose support was Liverpool Walton with 5,250 enhanced and standard-rate claimants at risk. This was followed by Blackpool South and Liverpool Riverside with 5,060 and 4,940 respectively.

In Keir Starmer’s seat of Holborn and St Pancras 2,890 claimants could lose out with 89% standard-rate and 15% of enhanced-rate claimants at risk. In the Chancellor’s seat there are 2,860 at risk and in Liz Kendall’s constituency the number is 3,260.

The Liberal Democrats said that many of the most vulnerable were “already on the brink”, and that these cuts in support risk leaving many people with disabilities unable to stay in work. The party called on the Government to change course and avoid the “real pain that could be inflicted”.

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling MP said:

“Many of the most vulnerable in our society are already on the brink and these figures reveal the scale of the misery that could be inflicted if these cuts go ahead.

“Countless people rely on this support to stay in work and just go about their daily lives. To strip that away from them is not only senseless but cruel.

“We need to see the Government realise that this has the potential to devastate people’s lives and make it much harder to stay in work. Ministers must change course to avoid the real pain that could be inflicted.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The analysis can be found here. The original Written Parliamentary Question and response by the Government can be found here.

First reported in the Guardian.