Alert from DWP for PIP recipients who may be due a payment review

An update on Personal Independence Payment reviews has been issued by the Department for Work and Pensions. As PIP was introduced in 2013, a number of people with severe or life-limiting conditions could see their PIP assessments up for a ten-year 'light touch' review.

According to the DWP, over 500 PIP reviews conducted since August 2023 did not require a health professional's assessment. In total, the DWP confirmed that 97 per cent of 'light touch' reviews, equating to 508 out of 521, were finalised without an assessment.

Hopefully, this will come as a relief for those with severe conditions, as it means it is unlikely the DWP will undertake an extensive review into their allowance, or change their entitlement. Of all 521 reviews, just three resulted in reduced PIP benefits with two seeing cuts while one entitlement was entirely disallowed.

READ MORE: Alert from DWP as payments could arrive unexpectedly this month

Certain Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants, whose condition is severe and unlikely to change, are subject to this 'light touch review', meaning their entitlement will only be reassessed after 10 years. This can apply if a claimant is over pension age, or has a severe, lifelong condition and receives the higher rate of both daily living and mobility components.

Instead of a lengthy assessment, the DWP has developed a simplified form to be used for 'light touch' reviews, without needing any input from a medical professional in the majority of cases. The main purpose of the review will be to check whether anything has changed and confirm that information held by the DWP is up to date, reports Birmingham Live.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has signalled that "most cases" approaching the end of a 10-year Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award will not require face-to-face assessments, thanks to a 'light-touch' review process resulting in awards that last between five and ten years.

Moreover, there's a handy reference tool now available on GOV.UK - a sample 'PIP AR2' form within the PIP Toolkit is meant to serve for reference purposes only. Individuals can use the six-page form to get a head start before their official notification arrives from the DWP, allowing them to organise their documentation well in advance.

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