Between February 2019 and January 2024, the DWP conducted 1.6million reviews of PIP claims and 20% of them saw the claimant’s award disallowed
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stripped 320,000 people of their disability benefits over the last five years.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a disability benefit given to people who have long-term mental or physical health conditions. According to recent data published by the benefits department, 3.3million people in the UK receive this payment.
However, over the last five years, 320,000 people have had their PIP payments withdrawn after a planned review of their claims. PIP is awarded based on how your health condition affects your daily life and your ability to do day to day tasks and not on the condition alone. This means a whole range of medical conditions and disabilities can make you eligible for the benefit.
To confirm how much you can get you may have to undergo a PIP assessment by the DWP. You are then reviewed when your award ends – this can range from two to 10 years. Between February 2019 and January 2024, the DWP conducted 1.6million reviews of PIP claims and 20% of them saw the claimant’s award disallowed. This would be down to the DWP believing that the claimant’s condition no longer affected their daily life enough to require the benefit.
Over the last five years, 1.1million claimants saw an increase or no change to the level of PIP they were paid. During the same period, 430,000 people reported a “change in circumstances” to the DWP, with 70,000 seeing their payments reduced and 360,000 seeing a rise or no change.
The DWP explained: “Awards may be reviewed either when a claimant reports a change of circumstances, or at the end of their review period as set when the original award was made. During a review of an award, the award level is assessed and may be changed (which can happen with or without the case first being referred to an Assessment Provider).”
PIP payments are comprised of two elements for living and two for mobility. For each component, there is a standard and an enhanced rate. The rates rose this month and claimants are now to be paid:
- The standard rate for daily living: is £72.65 a week
- The enhanced rate for daily living: £108.55 a week
- Standard rate for mobility: £28.70 a week
- Enhanced rate for mobility: £75.75 a week
