Members of an online benefit advisory forum are still reporting receiving backdated Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) ranging from £5,000 to almost £11,000 following a recent rule change by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
This unexpected financial boost follows a recent change to the rules by the DWP, which required a full review of around 326,000 PIP cases. A key change in the definition of 'social support', a crucial element of one of the daily living questions on the PIP assessment form, has prompted this massive reassessment.
This seemingly harmless semantic change has considerable implications, which has led the independent Benefits and Work campaign website to warn potentially affected claimants.
PIP Backdated Payments Deluge
According to Benefits and Work, a steady flow of forum members have received unexpected communications from the DWP, both by phone and post, informing them of substantial sums owed in arrears.
According to Benefits and Work, a steady flow of forum members have received unexpected communications from the DWP, both by phone and post, informing them of substantial sums owed in arrears.
Particularly one lucky member, who initially reported receipt of £5,000 in early March following a review of his case which moved him to the higher rate, has since revealed a further windfall of £5,500 - a sum obtained by a simple phone call to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The Member revealed that on 5 March, a DWP decision-maker had contacted him to ask some further questions about his plans and support systems when he ventured out.
Remarkably, this short exchange was all it took for the claimant to be immediately informed of a backdated claim dating back to 2016, allowing him to switch from the standard rate to the higher rate - a decision that precipitated the payment of almost £5,000 in the space of a few days.
Consequently, around 284,000 PIP claimants, as well as those with previously rejected claims, are being urged to contact the DWP promptly if they believe they have been adversely affected by the previous 'welfare' interpretation. Failure to do so could result in the loss of substantial sums of money that are rightfully theirs.
As of today, the DWP has issued around 14,000 back payments, totalling a staggering £74 million. However, the average amount in arrears is a staggering £5,285 per PIP claim.
Who is Eligible?
The far-reaching ramifications of the MM judgment are limited solely to the 'daily living' aspect of the PIP assessment. Therefore, efforts to revise the DWP are focusing on cases where the potential award of additional points for activity 9 (‘incentive’ or ‘social support’) could have a material impact on the amount of PIP to which claimants are entitled.
Those who may have lost the 'daily living' element of the PPI, or who received the standard rate but are now eligible for the increased rate, include the following:
- Mental Health Support: Those who engage in regular meetings with mental health professionals, without which they would be unable to manage face-to-face encounters.
- Specialized Social Support: Individuals who require the input of particular friends or relatives with experience in supporting them during social situations – as opposed to relying on any well-meaning acquaintance – to help them navigate face-to-face interactions.
Importantly, the DWP has explicitly stated that it will not reconsider applications in the following circumstances:
- If the enhanced rate of the Daily Living component of PIP has been awarded continuously since April 6, 2016.
- If a Tribunal has rendered a decision on a claim since April 6, 2016.
- If a decision to deny PIP was made before April 6, 2016.
The DWP is offering the opportunity for claimants who wish to appeal a decision on the reconsideration of their PIP claim under MM to request a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)
Further details of how to contest PIP decisions (and other benefits) are available on the official GOV.UK website, allowing claimants to navigate the complex appeals process with confidence.