New DWP update for people with PIP whose award expires this year

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that there were 392,000 outstanding award assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in England and Wales at the end of May. PIP claimants living in Scotland will not have their award assessed by the DWP as their case will transfer to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) before the end of 2025.

If any of the remaining 172,954 Scots receiving PIP report a change in their circumstances or if their fixed benefit is about to end, their case will be referred to Social Security Scotland.

With the number of new PIP claimants continuing to rise – there are now 3.5 million people receiving payments of up to £737.20 every four weeks – the DWP announced earlier this year that it was prioritising the processing of new claimants so they get the financial help they need as quickly as possible.

However, measures have also been taken to ensure that existing claimants do not miss out on payments when their benefits expire.

For people whose PIP award is due to expire soon, the payment will be automatically extended for up to 12 months, until the assessment process is completed.

However, the DWP has also warned that some people could face a ‘payment break’ if they delay submitting their renewal until just before their existing PIP award expires. This could affect anyone with a temporary award but no review date.

If this happens, it’s important to know that PIP can be backdated to the date of the claim. This means that claimants whose current PIP award expires and their payments are stopped will get the missing money back to ensure they don’t miss out on vital financial support – if their extension claim is successful.

Normally, the DWP will send a reminder six months before the benefit ends, asking if the claimant wishes to continue receiving PIP. If so, they will need to make a new claim.

The latest figures from DWP 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.

On 27 June, the DWP responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request asking about PIP award review backlogs and processing times. It said: “As at 31 May 2024, there were 392,000 Award Reviews outstanding in England and Wales.”

It added that there is no timeline for clearing the backlog, adding: “The main reason for the long time it is taking to complete PIP award assessments is the very high demand for PIP. We are seeing an unprecedented number of new claims. To manage this demand and ensure cases are paid out as quickly as possible, we are prioritising these claims.”

The DWP also indicated that where claimants request a review, these will be given priority over reviews initiated by the department itself.

The response continued: “We have actively recruited additional Case Managers to meet the additional demand. However, it takes time to train and consolidate new participants.

“Our assessment providers have also taken steps to increase the number of healthcare professionals they employ, but this too takes time and requires an extensive training period to ensure quality standards are met.

“We keep customers waiting for a review updated via text messages. We also ensure that all PIP awards are paid out for those affected by delays, extending awards for up to 12 months if necessary and informing customers in writing.”

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