Two personal independence payment (PIP) daily living activities are responsible for the majority of 4 point or higher scores, according to figures released by the DWP.
If Labour’s proposals to limit the PIP daily living component to claimants who score 4 points or more for at least one activity become law, over a million current claimants who do not meet the rule will be looking for opportunities to legitimately meet the criteria.
However, according to data in the Pathways to Work: Evidence pack: Chapter 2 reforming the structure, viable opportunities may be limited to a few activities for most claimants, as most activities have very few claimants who score highly
38% of claimants score 4 points or higher for activity 1, preparing food (36% score 4 points and 2% score 8 points).
32% score 4 points or higher for activity 9, engaging with other people face-to-face (31% score 4 points and 1% score 8 points)
The next highest is activity 7, communicating verbally, where 14% of claimants score 4 points or higher.
In order of 4 point score, the daily living activities are:
1 Preparing food 38%
9 Engaging with other people 32%
7 Communicating verbally 14%
10 Budgeting 10%
2 Taking nutrition 10%
5 Managing toilet needs 7%
6 Dressing and undressing 7%
4 Washing and bathing 6%
8 Reading and understanding 6%
3 managing therapy 1%
It appears that problems with activities such as managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing and washing and bathing are not often accepted by decision makers as meeting the 4 point threshold.
So, for many claimants, showing that you need supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal may be the best route, if it applies to you.
Following that, especially for those who live with mental health issues, needing social support to be able to engage with other people may be a possible route, though the law around this is complex, so giving relevant evidence is more challenging.
It is hard to see, based on these limited options for higher scores, how the Office for Budget Responsibility’s prediction that only 10% of claimants will lose their daily living award as a result of Labour’s plans will be fulfilled.
