DWP PIP warning as payments can be stopped for 8 key reasons
People receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) face potential cuts or cessation of their benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions is intensifying its PIP review process to verify the accuracy of claims before expected social security amendments in Labour's inaugural Budget at the end of October.
According to DWP figures, there have been 3.1 million PIP reviews undertaken since 2016. The PIP scheme is designed to assist with the additional expenses related to a disability or chronic health issue, offering up to £737 every four weeks roughly translating to an annual sum of £9,500. Notable reforms are on the cards owing to an "unprecedented" demand for the benefit, with new claims averaging around 70,000 per month.
Officials are now stepping up reviews after extra funding was put into the system by the previous government in the Spring Budget so more new claims can be assessed on time, which then frees up resources to deal with the backlog of existing cases that need to be checked.
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During this period, individuals will keep receiving their usual PIP payments until their review has been finalised, even if they've surpassed the fixed duration of their original entitlement, reports Birmingham Live.
Citizens Advice offers advice for those on PIP and cautions that the DWP can either curtail or terminate PIP payments for several reasons.
You didn't return a review form in time You've reached the end of your fixed-term PIP award You had a medical assessment and the DWP decided your condition has improved You missed a medical assessment You told the DWP about a change of circumstances and they decided you can't get PIP any more The DWP is taking back a benefit overpayment You have been accused of benefit fraud You are subject to immigration control
If your PIP has stopped due to the end of your fixed-term award, there are two potential courses of action. If you didn't receive a review form for your claim but still have medical issues, it's crucial to submit a new PIP claim immediately.
However, if you did receive and return a form but haven't heard back, get in touch with the DWP to confirm they received your form and inquire about their decision timeline.
If you failed to return the review form within the given timeframe, ring the PIP helpline at 0800 121 4433 and request an extension to complete and return it. If the DWP denies this request, you'll need to initiate a new claim from the beginning.
You can also contest the decision to terminate your PIP if you believe you had a valid reason for not returning your form before the deadline, such as illness or a home emergency.
You must request this 'mandatory reconsideration' of the decision on your claim within one month. However, Citizens Advice suggests that it's still worth asking even if it's within 13 months of the decision, provided you can justify your late response.
You can also request a mandatory reconsideration if the DWP determines your health has improved and decides to reduce or stop your PIP payments. If you believe your condition hasn't improved, ask your GP or specialist for a supporting letter and attach it to your paperwork when explaining why the decision was incorrect.
If you miss a medical assessment, you can request the DWP to schedule another one. If they agree and subsequently decide that you're still eligible for PIP, they will compensate you for any payments missed due to the halt.
However, the DWP has warned that certain changes in circumstances could result in an abrupt cessation of your PIP claim. This includes stays exceeding four weeks in hospitals, care homes or prisons, or extended overseas trips beyond the permitted duration.
Changes in immigration status can also affect your PIP. If you become subject to immigration control, your PIP will be stopped. The immigration status of your partner or child can also impact your benefits, warns the DWP.
Anyone without 'right of abode' (the permission to live, work, and access public services in the UK) is subject to immigration control. Even if you have indefinite leave to remain (also known as settled status), this is not permanent and can lapse if you've been outside the UK for a specified period.
Those with settled status can spend up to five consecutive years outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man without losing their status. However, those with pre-settled status must typically stay in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least six months every year and will automatically lose this status if they spend more than five consecutive years outside these areas.
Prior to May 21, 2024, pre-settled status could lapse after a much shorter period of two years.