DWP Announces New Measures to Accelerate PIP Reviews for Current Claimants

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that it will give priority to new claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to make sure applications are put into payment as soon as possible.

DWP Unveils Measures to Reduce PIP Evaluation Delays

The minister for Social Security and Disabilities at the DWP, Sir Stephen Timms, stated that additional Case Managers have been recruited in order to “meet increased demand for PIP, which means we are now in a position to begin to deploy additional resources onto award reviews”.

He emphasized how delivery of functional assessments recently switched over to a new contract and DWP “ will be taking steps to ensure they have sufficient capacity to deliver the required volume of assessments”. However, he highlighted that this “may take time and there is an extensive training period for new Healthcare Professionals to ensure quality standards are maintained”.

The DWP Minister announced a great deal of new measures set to reduce PIP evaluation delays. It’s crucial to note that PIP payments due to a review are automatically prolonged to make sure all claimants are paid respectively.

Streamlining PIP Assessments and Support

Mr Timms provided a written response to Labour's MP Katie White explaining how some PIP claimants with long-term health issues may not require attending face-to-face assessments, since a Case Manager could make a decision according to the previously provided information, adding that the majority of assessments are now conducted over the phone. Mr Timms outlined the new measures in place to “increase efficiency and move cases through the system more quickly”. These include:

• Where sufficient evidence/information is available, Case Managers can make decisions on reviews, avoiding the need for a functional assessment, which means many customers receive a decision faster.
• Healthcare Professionals now complete most assessments by telephone, which means the vast majority of customers who need an assessment do not need to attend a face-to-face appointment at an Assessment Centre.
• The DWP has introduced a change for customers with the most severe conditions, on the highest level of support, who now receive an ongoing PIP award which is only subject to a ‘light touch review’ every 10 years.