The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has officially confirmed that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rates will increase next year, offering a financial boost to millions of disabled adults across the UK.
What is PIP and who qualifies for it?
Personal Independence Payment is the primary disability benefit for working-age adults in Britain. It is designed to help with the extra costs associated with long-term ill-health, disability, or mental health conditions. Crucially, eligibility is not based on a specific list of diagnoses but on how an individual's condition impacts their daily life and ability to carry out tasks.
You can claim PIP if you are aged between 16 and the state pension age. If you are already receiving PIP when you reach pension age, your payments will usually continue. For those over state pension age who may have been eligible in the past year, a new claim might still be possible, or you may qualify for Attendance Allowance instead.
How much will PIP payments rise in April 2026?
The DWP has announced that PIP will rise by 3.8% from April 2026, in line with the rate of inflation. This increase will apply to both components of the benefit: the daily living part and the mobility part.
The new weekly rates from April 2026 will be:
- Daily Living Component: Standard rate rising from £73.90 to £76.70. Enhanced rate rising from £110.40 to £114.60.
- Mobility Component: Standard rate rising from £29.20 to £30.30. Enhanced rate rising from £77.05 to £80.00.
Claimants can be awarded one or both components, depending on how their condition affects them, as determined during a DWP assessment.
Understanding PIP assessments and awards
When you apply for PIP, you will undergo an assessment to determine the level of help you need. Awards are typically made for a fixed period, which can range from nine months up to ten years, after which your claim will be reviewed. The amount you receive can change if your condition improves or worsens.
There is a special provision for those who are terminally ill; they usually receive PIP automatically without an assessment, with an award typically lasting for three years before review.
It is important to note that receiving PIP does not normally reduce other benefits. In fact, it often acts as a gateway to increased amounts of support, such as higher payments for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), through additional disability premiums.
