DWP is stopping PIP payments after claimants made form mistake

The Department for Work and Pensions is scrapping people's Personal Independence Payments - after they made one time management error. The DWP will stop PIP payments if claimants fail to respond to a form in time, it has emerged.

The DWP might have stopped or reduced your PIP because 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 or you missed a medical assessment, Citizens Advice said.

The charity says other reasons include 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 or maybe you’ve been accused of benefit fraud.

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If the DWP say your PIP has stopped because you’re subject to immigration control, get help from an adviser, the charity adds. If you’re not sure why the DWP stopped or reduced your PIP, you can check any letters the DWP have sent you – they should explain what has happened.

You can also call the PIP enquiry line and ask them to explain. The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line is via 0800 121 4433, or alternatively, via Textphone on 0800 121 4493. Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 121 4433.

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Contact the DWP as soon as possible, explain why you haven’t returned the form yet and ask for more time. If the DWP agree to give you more time, fill in the form and send it to them - check how to fill in the review form. If they decide you can still get PIP, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

If the DWP won’t give you more time to send your review form, you should start a new PIP claim as soon as possible. Check how to make a new PIP claim. You can also challenge the decision to stop your PIP if there’s a good reason you didn’t send your review form in time. For example, if you were ill or had an emergency at home.

If your challenge is successful, the DWP will pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.