Latest figures reveal that approximately 628,000 individuals receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for disabilities and long-term physical and mental health conditions have had their claims halted. Over the same period, another 300,000 have seen their benefits reduced.
The Department for Work and Pensions reviews all PIP claims after a predetermined time set at the approval of each application. Additional unscheduled reviews can be conducted if there is a reported change in circumstances, typically when health deteriorates due to an existing disability or a new medical issue arises.
Currently, around 3.6 million people in Britain are receiving PIP from the DWP, with awards approved for a specific period – ranging from nine months to 10 years – before a review is carried out to determine whether it will stop, reduce, increase or continue at the same level. Those in Scotland are being transitioned to a devolved Adult Disability Payment instead.
DWP statistics indicate 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.
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 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) following a review, while just over 500,000 received an increased amount and nearly 1.4 million maintained the same PIP level. In October 2024 alone – the latest month for which data is available – over 5,250 individuals had their PIP discontinued after a review of their claim, and 1,796 saw their payments reduced.
Meanwhile, 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 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. Over the past eight years, more than 66,000 claimants who reported such changes have had their PIP claim completely stopped.
This includes 52,000 who failed their assessment, 4,000 who didn’t attend it, and 10,000 whose PIP was cancelled based solely on paperwork. During the same period, 35,000 people who informed the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about a change in their circumstances received a lower payment level, 325,000 were awarded a higher rate, and 261,000 were told their payment would remain the same.
In the latest data from October 2024, the majority of claimants who saw changes in their benefits remained on the same amount (6,635 individuals), while nearly 5,000 were granted an enhanced rate of payment. A further 227 people experienced a reduction in their benefits, with close to 500 being informed that their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would be stopped altogether.
PIP claimants are warned their payments could reduce in certain situations
(Image: Getty)
The controversial reassessments have been labelled “dehumanising” and “distressing”, sparking demands for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to implement changes. Campaigners are urging for the abolition of “repeat assessments” and argue that continued eligibility for PIP should be regulated by medical judgement, not as a measure to trim costs.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, acknowledged 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.”
He admitted, however, that the process of application and assessment is under review for potential improvements.
Such improvements might be included in the proposed “fundamental reforms” to health and disability benefits announced by Labour for spring 2025. These reforms may limit PIP eligibility to those with long-term or severe conditions, or possibly introduce a range of payment levels based on the degree of support needed, as opposed to the current bipartite system of standard or enhanced payments.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson stated: “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.”
They added: “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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