New DWP update for people on PIP with an award due to end this year to avoid payment interruptions

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that there were 392,000 outstanding Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards in England and Wales at the end of May. PIP claimants who live in Scotland will not see their award reviewed by the DWP as their case will be transferred to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) until the end of 2025.

If any of the remaining 172,954 Scots on PIP report a change of circumstances or their fixed benefit is coming to an end, their case will be transferred to Social Security Scotland.

As the number of new PIP claimants continues to rise – there are now 3.5 million people who receive up to £737.20 every four-week pay period – the DWP announced earlier this year that it was prioritizing processing first-time claimants to get them financial help. they need as soon as possible.

However, it has also taken steps to ensure existing claimants do not lose out on payments when their decision expires.

People whose PIP award is about to end will see payments automatically extended for up to 12 months until the review process can be completed.

However, the DWP also warned that some people may experience a “payment interruption” if they delay submitting their renewal until just before the end of their existing PIP award – this could affect anyone with a fixed-term award but no review date. .

If this happens, it’s important to note that PIP can be backdated to the claim date, meaning claimants whose current PIP award ends and their payments stop will receive any missing money to ensure they don’t lose out funds. support – if their renewal request is successful.

The DWP usually sends a reminder six months before the decision is due to expire, asking whether the claimant wishes to continue receiving PIP – and if so, they must make a new claim.

The latest DWP figures also show that 51.7 per cent of all new PIP claims are processed within the target time of 75 working days – just under 15 weeks.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request asking about outstanding PIP award reviews and processing times was answered by the DWP on 27 June. He said: “There were 392,000 award reviews in England and Wales as of 31 May 2024.”

He added that there was no timeline for clearing the backlog and added: “The main reason for the long time to complete the PIP award review is the very high demand for PIP. We are witnessing an unprecedented number of new claims. To cope with this demand and ensure cases are paid as soon as possible, we are prioritizing these claims.”

The DWP also said that if applicants request a review, these take precedence over department-initiated reviews.

The response continued: “We have been actively recruiting additional Case Managers to meet the additional demand. However, training and consolidation of new participants takes time.

“Our assessment providers are also taking steps to increase the number of health professionals they employ, but again this takes time and there is a long training period to ensure quality standards are met.

“We inform customers who are waiting for a review via SMS messages. We are also ensuring that all PIP awards remain paid to those affected by the delay, extending awards for up to 12 months where necessary and informing customers in writing.”

If your PIP award is due to end this year, make sure the DWP has your correct contact details so you don’t miss any review updates. Full details can be found on GOV.UK here.