These PIP claimants could fail to qualify for benefits under strict new rules

From next year, applicants will need to score four points in at least one activity when they are being assessed for the daily living element of PIP, which is currently worth up to £110 a week

Severe reductions to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will pose a challenge for new applicants to qualify and for existing beneficiaries to retain their full benefits. Starting next year, claimants will need to accumulate at least four points in one activity during their assessment for the daily living component of PIP, which is currently valued at up to £110 per week.

If they fail to score four points in any of the 10 assessed activities, they will be ineligible for the daily living portion of PIP. This could affect individuals who require assistance with basic tasks such as bathing, using the toilet, and dressing, reports Birmingham Live.

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The 10 daily living activities are listed below, along with the reasons that would yield less than four points under the current system. These would be reasons that would disqualify someone, as a minimum of four points in one activity is required to qualify.

For instance, scoring three points in every activity wouldn’t suffice to secure the daily living part of PIP – despite the fact that this would present numerous difficulties in a person’s everyday life.

Preparing food

1. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points.
3. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave. points. 2 points
4. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. 2 points.

Taking nutrition

1. Can take nutrition unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs – to use an aid or appliance to be able to take nutrition; or supervision to be able to take nutrition; or assistance to be able to cut up food. 2 points.
3. Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition. 2 points.

Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

1. Either – does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition; or can manage medication or therapy or monitor a health condition unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs any one or more of the following – to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication; supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication. supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition. 1 point.
3. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week. 2 points.

Washing and bathing

1. Can wash and bathe unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe. 2 points.
3. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe. 2 points.
4. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist. 2 points.
5. Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower. 3 points.

Managing toilet needs or incontinence

1. Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence. 2 points.
3. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs. 2 points.

Dressing and undressing

1. Can dress and undress unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress. 2 points.
3. Needs either – prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing. 2 points.
4. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body. 2 points.

Communicating verbally

1. Can express and understand verbal information unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear. 2 points.

Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

1. Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses. 0 points.
2. Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information. 2 points.
3. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information. 2 points.

Engaging with other people face to face

1. Can engage with other people unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people. 2 points.

Making budgeting decisions

1. Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided. 0 points.
2. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions. 2 points.