The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has acknowledged that the review process for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can be “unsettling for some claimants”. The admission came from Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disabilities at the DWP, in a response to a written question by Reform UK MP James McMurdock regarding the support provided to existing PIP claimants during reviews.
Sir Stephen outlined several measures the DWP has implemented, such as offering PIP consultations via phone, in person, or video call to accommodate different needs of claimants. He also mentioned that more ‘in-house’ reviews by DWP Case Managers could avoid consultations if “sufficient evidence is provided by the claimant”.
Additionally, he reassured claimants that their payments will continue without interruption until a review is completed, which includes continued access to the Motability and Blue Badge Schemes. For further information about the review process, Sir Stephen directed individuals to the GOV.UK website.
In his official reply, Sir Stephen detailed various ways the DWP is offering assistance to claimants. He stated: “In order to speed up the review process, DWP Case Managers can now undertake PIP reviews in-house, removing the need for a consultation, in cases where sufficient evidence is provided by the claimant. This takes away the stress of a consultation and enables a decision to be made more quickly for the majority of claimants.”
He also mentioned that “that do need to be reviewed by a Healthcare Professional, different types of assessment types are available depending on claimant circumstances”, reports the Daily Record. Continuing, Sir Stephen noted: “Providers can offer telephony, video or face-to-face assessments or reviews can again be undertaken, in some cases, using information provided without the need for a consultation.”
He included details for PIP applicants with serious mental or cognitive impairments, stating the DWP marks these with an “Additional Support marker to the case which protects the claimant from falling out of payment where they struggle to complete forms or engage in the process”. In essence, this allows for the review procedure to go forward even if a review form isn’t filled out.
Addressing concerns over delays in reviews, Sir Stephen added: “We have taken steps to keep claimants informed and updated via text messages. In such cases, we routinely extend awards to ensure continuity of payments, enabling claimants (where appropriate) to retain eligibility for Motability vehicles and Blue Badges.”
If you require additional time to fill out the review form, you can reach out to the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433. Comprehensive information about the PIP review process is available on GOV.UK here.
Guidance on what to include on the PIP review form can be found on the Citizens Advice website here. For PIP claimants in Scotland, there are 80,000 individuals set to transition to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) by spring 2025. These individuals will not undergo a review from the DWP. Instead, one will be conducted after the migration process is complete.