The move marks the next stage in a process that began after PIP replaced DLA for new adult claims in 2013. The transfer programme was paused in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving thousands of adult DLA claimants still receiving the older benefit.
DWP Begins Phased Return of DLA to PIP Transfers
The DWP has said that around 153,000 adult DLA claimants remain on the previous system and will now be invited to apply for PIP. According to the department, the first stage will involve a review of 3,000 randomly selected cases from September before any wider rollout takes place.
Many of the remaining DLA claimants are understood to have received lifetime awards, meaning their conditions had been recognised as unlikely to change and they had not been required to undergo regular reassessments. Under the new process, these claimants will need to complete a PIP application form and may be required to attend a health assessment.
PIP uses different rules from DLA and assesses eligibility through daily living and mobility activities. Claimants receive either the standard or enhanced rate for each component depending on the points awarded for those activities.
There is no automatic guarantee that people moving from DLA to PIP will receive the same level of support. Some claimants may receive a different amount or may not qualify for PIP. The DWP has also stated that claimants will not be able to return to DLA once the transfer has taken place.
Disability Groups Raise Concerns over Reassessment Process
The planned transfer has drawn attention from disability organisations, with concerns focused on the experience of assessments and the possible impact on claimants. James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said the DWP must ensure it does not penalise disabled people whose extra costs are likely to rise. “Disabled people know that the current system for PIP is not working and too many have to endure assessments that feel dehumanising and confrontational,” Taylor said.
A review into PIP led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms has examined claimants’ experiences of the system. According to the interim findings from the review, some applicants reported having to share “intimate details” during assessments and later feeling that their experiences had been “misrepresented or dismissed”.
The DWP said that the transfer of adult DLA claimants to PIP had been paused since 2020. A spokesperson added that a reassessment currently only happens when a recipient reaches the age of 16, reports a change in circumstances, or voluntarily applies for PIP.
Claimants invited to move from DLA to PIP will need to respond to the DWP’s contact and complete the required application process. According to the department, findings from the initial 3,000-case review will help determine what additional support may be needed when active transfers restart.
