Health

Anxiety, Pain, and Now Panic: Proposed PIP Cuts Rattle Disabled Brits

Published on June 29, 2025

Imagine living with both severe anxiety and chronic pain—and now being told you may no longer qualify for the support that helps you get by. That’s the fear gripping thousands of people in the UK who rely on Personal Independence Payment, or PIP.

PIP helps people with long-term health issues or disabilities manage everyday life. But now, major changes being floated by the UK government are leaving many anxious—especially those dealing with more than one condition, reported Liverpool Echo.

Right now, to qualify, people need to score at least four points in either the daily living or mobility component. The proposed change? Lowering that to just one point—but only if that single condition alone qualifies. That means folks with two different issues, like arthritis and depression, might not make the cut anymore if each condition alone isn’t severe enough.

One concerned claimant said, “I’ve got anxiety and chronic back pain—together they make things near impossible. But individually, they might not qualify anymore.” They added they feel “terrified” at the thought of reapplying and losing their support.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says about 72% of at-risk PIP claims involve physical health issues. Mental health makes up 26%, with conditions like ADHD and autism at under 2%. This shift is worrying because it could hit older people with long-term physical conditions hardest.

For example, among people aged 50 to 66:

82% of those with arthritis
79% with COPD
75% with cardiovascular disease
63% with chronic back pain

…are at risk of losing their PIP support if the changes go through. That’s huge. These are folks who’ve likely worked most of their lives and are now struggling just to get around or care for themselves.

Still, mental health claimants are sounding the alarm too. A study tracking people who switched from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP found that 32% of those with mental health issues lost their support, compared to 16% with physical conditions. And people with ADHD were among the most likely to get denied altogether.

Part of the issue? Many assessors aren’t well trained to recognize mental health symptoms. Instead, they often rely on quick face-to-face impressions—like whether someone appears well-groomed or makes eye contact—to make a judgment. That’s a pretty shallow way to decide someone’s future.

While these changes are still being reviewed, they could take effect as soon as late 2026, with full rollout by 2029. That means thousands could lose their benefits in the next few years, potentially leaving older or disabled people without enough support for essentials like food, heating, or transportation.

And in the bigger picture, many are worried this is part of a larger government plan to cut billions from disability benefits. Critics say this risks punishing vulnerable people just to balance the books.

If you want more on this, both the Financial Times and The Guardian have covered how these proposed changes could affect families across the UK, especially as the cost of living continues to climb.

So, while the rules might seem like small technical changes, the human impact could be massive. For many, this isn’t just about points on a chart—it’s about whether they can keep living with dignity.

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