DWP could stop PIP payments if you fall foul of this small mistake

Those who claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) may be at risk of losing their claim. Currently, around 3.6 million people claim PIP for a wide variety of reasons. The benefit is aimed at assisting those living with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health conditions that leads to higher daily living or mobility expenses.

Generally, PIP claimants can receive between £28.80 to £184.30 per week. Despite this, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could seize payments completely for a number of reasons. This would mean those relying on PIP may lose out on an essential form of income.

Often, this can happen due to mistakes on the claimants part but may also be due to a decision made solely by the DWP. Read below to see why you may lose out on your PIP claims.

You failed to tell the DWP of a change in circumstances

The DWP states that you must contact the PIP enquiry line immediately if you experience a change in circumstances. The DWP says the following changes must be immediately reported:

• you’re imprisoned or held in detention

• you plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks

• your immigration status changes and you’re not a British or Irish citizen

• you go into a hospital, a hospice, a nursing home or a care home

• you start or stop getting pensions or benefits from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

• a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live (you could get PIP at a higher rate under ‘special rules for end of life’)

• you go into a residential school or college

• you need more or less help with daily living and mobility tasks

• your husband, wife, civil partner or a parent you depend on starts or stops getting benefits from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

• your health professional tells you that your condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you reported before

• you go into foster care or into the care of a local authority or health and social care trust

The DWP warns that failure to report a change could lead to you being taken to court or having to pay a penalty.

A change in circumstances means the DWP thinks you don't need PIP anymore

In some cases, a change in circumstances could mean that the DWP believes you are no longer eligible for PIP. DWP official guidance states that the aforementioned changes "can affect your PIP award. Depending on the change your PIP could go up, go down, stay the same or stop."

It's important to note that you must always provide accurate information to the DWP, the guidance highlights that providing the wrong information could lead to you being taken to court or having to pay a penalty.

The DWP is claiming an overpayment

In some cases, the DWP may have made a mistake in your benefit payments and given you more than you're actually owed. In this case you will be sent a letter explaining what the mistake is and why the DWP believes it has happened.

Once an overpayment has been confirmed, the money you owe to the DWP will generally be taken out of future payments bit-by-bit until the outstanding amount has been fulfilled.

You failed to attend a medical assessment

Citizens Advice highlights that PIP claimants must go to their medical assessment or their PIP claim will be automatically rejected. It advises claimants to contact their assessment provider immediately if they know they cannot make the appointment while providing a good reason - this will allow the provider to potentially reschedule the appointment.