More than 600,000 claimants have had their benefit scrapped while 300,000 have had payments reduced. The changes are for people claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
An estimated 628,000 people receiving PIP for disabilities and long-term physical and mental health conditions have had their claims stopped, according to the most recent statistics. Over the same period, a further 300,000 have seen their benefits cut.
Officials at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) review all PIP claims after a predetermined period set at the time of each application being approved. More unscheduled reviews can be conducted if there is a reported change in circumstances, typically when an individual’s health deteriorates due to an existing disability or a new medical issue arises.
About 3.6 million people in the UK receive PIP from the DWP, with awards approved for a specific period – ranging from nine months to ten years – before a review is carried out to determine whether it will stop, reduce, increase or continue at the same level.
Now DWP data reveals that during the eight years from June 2016, 628,000 claims were stopped following an end-of-award review or change-of-circumstances review. For those whose claims were up for review after a fixed term, 277,000 claimants lost their PIP after a new assessment, and 35,000 were informed their PIP was being cancelled because they failed to attend the appointment.
And a further 250,000 people had their PIP stopped based on the forms they completed, without being asked to attend a new health assessment, reports Birmingham Live. Furthermore, 264,000 claimants experienced a reduction in their PIP payments following a review, while just over 500,000 were granted a higher amount and nearly 1.4 million maintained the same level of PIP.
And in October 2024 alone – the most recent month for which data is available – more than 5,250 individuals had their PIP discontinued after a review of their claim, and 1,796 saw their payments reduced, while almost 5,600 were informed they would receive a higher amount and 34,000 people experienced no change in their award.
If a claimant reports a change in their circumstances, a separate review is organised. This entails a complete reassessment of the PIP claim, but it doesn’t necessarily lead to an increase in payment levels.
For those who have reported such changes to the DWP, more than 66,000 claimants have had their PIP claim completely stopped in the past eight years. This included 52,000 who failed their assessment, 4,000 who didn’t attend it and 10,000 whose PIP was cancelled based solely on paperwork.
Over the same period, 35,000 people who told the DWP about a change in their circumstances were given a reduced payment level, 325,000 were awarded a higher rate and 261,000 were told they’d still be getting the same amount.
In the most recent month recorded (October 2024), the majority who reported a change ended up on the same amount (6,635 claimants), while almost 5,000 were awarded an enhanced rate of payment. Another 227 recipients saw their benefit payments lowered and nearly 500 people were told their PIP was being stopped.
With complaints raised about these reassessments being “dehumanising” and “distressing”, the DWP is facing calls to make improvements. Campaigners are asking for an end to “repeat assessments” and say continued entitlement to PIP “should be a medical decision, not a cost-saving exercise”.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, said last month: “It is, of course, important that we keep awards under review, because sometimes they go up as well as down and we want to ensure that the support being provided is appropriate for the claimant.” But he conceded that the application and assessment processes were being reconsidered with a view to improvements.
Those may form part of “fundamental reforms” to health and disability benefits to be set out by the Labour Government in spring 2025. This could include restrictions on eligibility for PIP so it’s targeted at those with long-term or severe conditions, or introducing multiple tiers of payments based on the extent of support required, in contrast to the two-tier standard or enhanced levels currently available.
And the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “We have seen a situation this Government inherited on inactivity, we have seen the situation on the spiralling benefits bill with millions of people on long-term illness or disability out of work and not getting the support that they need, and that is why we are determined to fix this.
“Building on our Get Britain Working White Paper, we will be publishing a consultation in the spring on measures to ensure the system is better supporting people, including young people, to get them into work and keep them in work. The Government’s approach is going to be to tackle the root causes of this issue, but it is a massive challenge, it has built up over years.”
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