DWP issues major PIP update to help those currently awaiting a decision
Those in the process of applying for Personal Independence Payment or awaiting a review of their current claim could receive a decision sooner than expected, following a significant Government update. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has reportedly bolstered its team of case managers to nearly 2,000 to address its considerable backlog of claims.
This overhaul comes as the DWP faces 'unprecedented demand' for the disability benefit, which provides financial aid for individuals with long-term physical and mental health conditions. Figures reveal that between May and July, 210,000 people lodged PIP applications, averaging 70,000 per month.
During this same period, decisions were made on 240,000 claims, with 53% of applicants being granted the benefit after a health assessment. Around 37% of successful applicants received the highest payment level of £737 every four weeks.
However, the influx of new applications has slowed the review process for existing claims, necessitating more staff. A recent report from Civil Service World disclosed that as of August, the DWP had 1,948 full-time case managers working on PIP claims, marking a 5.5% increase from the previous year.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reportedly training over 100 new recruits to handle less complex claims, freeing up experienced officials to review existing cases, according to Birmingham Live. As part of the first phase of transforming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system, assessments to determine eligibility and benefit amounts are now being conducted by a single contractor within each geographical region, reports Lancs Live.
This streamlining will eventually lead to the launch of a nationwide Health Assessment Service in five years. BirminghamLive recently revealed that additional funding is being injected into the PIP system until September 2028, including £110 million this financial year and £35 million in 2025-2026.
This will enable the hiring of more staff and ensure a higher number of new claims are processed on time, thus freeing up resources to tackle the backlog of existing cases requiring review. DWP Minister for Social Security and Disabilities Sir Stephen Timms (East Ham) recently confirmed several initiatives were under way to address new applications for PIP as well as the lengthy waiting list of existing claim reviews.
Sir Stephen stated: "We continue to prioritise new claims to PIP to ensure claims are put into payment as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this means many customers are waiting longer than expected for their review to be undertaken. We have been actively recruiting additional case managers to meet increased demand for PIP, which means we are now in a position to begin to deploy additional resource onto award reviews. This will increase the number of review cases we can complete 'in house'."
He also noted that the DWP is ensuring that new assessment providers 'have sufficient capacity to deliver the required volume of assessments', but warned that 'this may take time', partly due to the lengthy training period needed for new healthcare professionals. The minister added that other procedures had been implemented 'to increase efficiency and move cases through the system more quickly'.
This includes making quicker decisions on reviews without needing to arrange an assessment, if enough evidence is available to reach a decision. Furthermore, with most assessments now conducted via telephone, 'the vast majority of customers who need an assessment do not need to attend a face-to-face appointment at an Assessment Centre'.
Additional changes also mean that claimants with the most severe conditions, who are on the highest level of PIP support, are given an 'ongoing' award of the benefit with no need for reassessment except for a 'light touch review' every 10 years.
Sir Stephen outlined the procedures in place for individuals awaiting reviews of their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims, emphasising that their benefits continue even beyond the fixed term if required. He explained: "For customers waiting for a review, we keep them regularly updated using SMS text messages. We also ensure all PIP customers awaiting a review remain in payment, extending awards for up to 12 months where necessary, notifying customers in writing to allay concerns."