The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could halt your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit payments for eight reasons. Since 2016, around 3.1 million PIP claims have been reviewed, resulting in tens of thousands of people having their payments stopped or reduced.
PIP is designed to cover the additional costs associated with a long-term health condition or disability, offering up to £737 every four weeks, equivalent to roughly £9,500 annually. Approximately 70,000 new claims are made for the benefit each month.
Even if they’ve exceeded the fixed term of their initial claim, individuals’ PIP payments continue as usual until their review has been completed. Following the Autumn budget at the end of October, the DWP is increasing its reviews of PIP to ensure claims are accurate.
If you didn’t return a review form on time and your PIP has ceased due to the end of your fixed-term award, there are two potential courses of action. If you didn’t receive a review form for your claim but still have medical issues, it’s vital to submit a new PIP claim immediately.
However, if you did receive and return a form but haven’t heard back, contact the DWP to confirm they received your form and inquire about their decision timeline, reports Birmingham Live.
If you didn’t manage to return the review form within the specified period, give the PIP helpline a ring on 0800 121 4433 and ask for an extension to complete and send it back. If the DWP refuses this request, you’ll have to start a new claim from scratch.
You’ve reached the end of your fixed-term PIP award. You can also challenge the decision to end your PIP if you think you had a valid reason for not sending your form back before the deadline, such as illness or a home emergency.
You must request this ‘mandatory reconsideration’ of the decision on your claim within one month. However, Citizens Advice suggests that it’s still worth asking even if it’s within 13 months of the decision, provided you can justify your late response.
You had a medical assessment. You can also request a mandatory reconsideration if the DWP determines your health has improved and decides to reduce or stop your PIP payments.
If you believe your condition hasn’t improved, ask your GP or specialist for a supporting letter and attach it to your paperwork when explaining why the decision was incorrect. You missed a medical assessment.
If you miss a medical assessment, you can request the DWP to schedule another one. If they agree and subsequently decide that you’re still eligible for PIP, they will compensate you for any payments missed due to the halt.
You informed the DWP about a change of circumstances and they decided you can’t get PIP any more.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning that certain changes in circumstances could lead to an abrupt end to your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim. This includes stays exceeding four weeks in hospitals, care homes or prisons, or extended overseas trips beyond the permitted duration.
Changes in immigration status can also affect your PIP. If you become subject to immigration control, your PIP will be stopped.
The immigration status of your partner or child can also impact your benefits, warns the DWP. If you’ve been overpaid on benefits, the government will usually reduce your future benefits payments until you’ve repaid what you owe.
You should receive a letter explaining why they think you’ve been overpaid, including a list of reasons. If you haven’t been told why you can ask to be sent the reasons in writing.
If you’ve been accused of benefit fraud, your payments will stop while the DWP investigates. Citizens Advice suggests finding a solicitor that can assist you during the investigation.
If your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has ceased due to the expiration of your fixed-term award, there are two potential courses of action. If you didn’t receive a review form but still have medical issues, it’s crucial to submit a new PIP claim immediately.
If you did receive and return a form but haven’t heard back, get in touch with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to confirm they received your form and inquire about their decision timeline. If you failed to return the review form within the given timeframe, ring the PIP helpline at 0800 121 4433 and request an extension to complete and return it.
If the DWP denies this, you’ll need to initiate a new claim from the beginning. You can also contest the decision to terminate your PIP if you believe you had a valid reason for not returning your form on time, such as illness or a home emergency.
