Many PIP claimants could see their payments reduced or stopped as the DWP identifies key reasons in its ongoing reviews.
PIP Claimants Warned Payments Could Be Stopped for Eight Key Reasons Amid DWP Overhaul
By Lydia Amazouz
Published on 17 September 2024 09:50
People claimants may see their benefits reduced or halted, since significant causes for the changes have been identified.
DWP Accelerates PIP Reviews Ahead of Major Reforms as Thousands Risk Payment Cuts
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is pushing up Personal Independence Payment reviews to ensure claims are valid prior to social security reforms, which are expected to be included in Labour's initial budget at the end of October, as reported by BirminghamLive.
According to DWP data, 3.1 million PIP applications have been evaluated since 2016, including over 283,000 in the West Midlands. According to the findings, 53,289 people in the West Midlands had their PIP payments halted, while 22,951 were given notice that the amount would be reduced.
PIP is meant to help with the additional costs associated with disabilities or long-term health issues and provides up to £737 every four weeks, which equates to approximately £9,500 annually. Major adjustments have been proposed due to "unprecedented" requests for the benefit, which sees approximately 70,000 additional applications submitted each month.
Key Reasons PIP Payments Could Be Stopped or Reduced by the DWP
Officials are currently speeding up reviews after the previous government added extra cash to the system in the Spring Budget, allowing more new claims to be assessed on schedule and freeing up personnel to manage the stack of old cases that need to be reviewed. People's PIP benefits remain the same until the evaluation is completed, even if they have beyond the stipulated duration of their original claim.
Citizens Advice offers useful guidance to claimants and cautions that the DWP may terminate or lower your PIP due to the following reasons:
- You failed to submit a review form on time.
- You've completed your fixed-term PIP award.
- You had a medical evaluation, and the DWP determined that your condition has improved.
- You skipped a medical assessment.
- You informed the DWP about a shift in circumstances, and they concluded you can't claim PIP anymore.
- The DWP is reclaiming a benefit overpayment.
- You are accused of benefit fraud.
- You are under immigration controls.
If your PIP has been stopped due to the expiration of your fixed-term award, you have two options. If you were not sent a form to have your claim evaluated but still have medical difficulties, you should file a fresh claim for PIP as soon as you can. If you have a form and submitted it but didn't receive a response, call the DWP to confirm receipt and ask when they will be making a decision.
If you failed to return the review application on time, call the PIP hotline at 0800 121 4433 and request additional time to fill it and return it. If the DWP does not allow this, you must start a fresh claim.
You can also appeal the decision to terminate your PIP if you believe you had a legitimate cause for failing to return your form by the deadline.
You must request this 'mandatory reconsideration' of the decision on the appeal within one month, although Citizens Advice says it is still reasonable to ask if it is within 13 months of the judgement, as long as you can justify your delayed response.
You can also request a mandatory reassessment if the DWP determines that your health is getting better and that your PIP payments will be reduced or stopped.
If you feel like your condition has not improved, ask your doctor or medical specialist for a letter that supports this up and include it to your documentation when explaining why the judgement was incorrect.
Claimants who skip a medical assessment might enquire whether the DWP will schedule another one. If they consent to another appointment and later decide you can still obtain PIP, they will reimburse you the amount you would have received if it had not stopped.
People are also advised that certain changes in circumstances can result in a PIP claim being abruptly terminated. This includes staying in a hospital, nursing home, or prison for more than four weeks or travelling abroad for longer than permitted.
If your immigration status changes and you are under immigration control, your PIP will be suspended. The DWP warns that the immigration status of your significant other or child may potentially have an impact on your benefits.