The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it will be conducting a survey asking Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants how they spend their benefit payments. The research aims to understand the disability expenses that PIP is expected to cover.
Ministers have clarified that PIP is not an income replacement benefit, but is intended to assist with additional costs resulting from a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition. PIP can be received regardless of income or savings. It is tax-free and exempt from the benefit cap.
Changes are being implemented to the system that will impact the number of people who qualify for the full amount of PIP. Labour's new reforms of disability and incapacity benefits propose restricting eligibility to PIP so it only goes to those with higher needs.
From April 2026, claimants will need at least one score of four in the everyday tasks that are assessed – such as preparing a meal and getting dressed – to receive the daily living component of PIP, which is worth up to £441.60 every four weeks, or £5,740.80 a year.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, MP for Poole, questioned the DWP about the adequacy of disability and incapacity payments in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, reports Birmingham Live.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, said in a written response this week: "Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides a contribution to the extra costs that may arise from a disability or health condition.
"DWP pays close attention to estimates of the extra costs faced by disabled people; including academic research, analysis by Scope, and DWP's own commissioned research on the Uses of Health and Disability Benefits from 2019.
"In order to improve the evidence in this area, DWP is now undertaking a new survey of Personal Independence Payment customers to understand more about their disability-related needs. It is expected to produce findings in Autumn 2025."
The idea of investigating how PIP claimants use their funds was initially mentioned last year, ahead of proposed changes in the recent Green Paper. While it remains unclear how this research will impact PIP payment amounts, any adjustments would likely be based on the study's results.
Scope, the disability equality charity, has voiced concerns that the current PIP payments do not sufficiently cover the associated costs. As of this April, the maximum amount a person can receive has increased from £737.20 to £749.80 every four weeks, which totals £9,747.40 each year.
David Southgate from Scope said: "Life costs more if you are disabled. Scope research shows that these costs add up to on average £1,010 a month for disabled people to have the same standard of living. The low amount that PIP provides doesn't go far enough as it is."
Disability rights advocate Amelia Peckham, co-founder of Cool Crutches and Walking Sticks, has evaluated the extra expenses encountered by individuals with disabilities, estimating that disabled persons in Britain incur annual costs around £12,000 more simply to live. Amelia said: "Disabled people often require additional equipment and adaptations to support their daily lives.
"In my experience, I suffer from a lack of circulation as a result of nerve damage and so rely on heating and hot baths to maintain comfort and functionality. This has a huge impact on bills – hot water bottles, electric blankets, heating, it all adds up.
"Similarly, a range of mobility equipment is often needed and small maintenance, replacement parts, etc, need to be considered. Anything from needing two crutches on a bad day to switching between no mobility aid, a walking stick, crutches, a wheelchair, and a power chair means the amount of kit we need to ensure we can move on any given day is huge."
She added: "All too often, these costs are little but frequent and they add up. We also know disabled people earn less, struggle to find work, and often are unable to work full-time.
"This pushes the cost onto a lower-income household and increases the time spent at home versus an office which then costs to keep warm, comfortable, and mobile are significant when income isn't."
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