The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that it will automatically extend existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards awaiting review from the current three months by up to 12 months from September 6. DWP also said it will do this 35 days before the award is due to end and notify claimants by text message.
In June, Secretary of State for the DWP, Therese Coffey, told a cross-party panel of MPs that new claims for PIP had reached ‘record’ levels and ‘never been so high’, however, the knock-on effect of this increase in demand for the disability benefit has resulted in a backlog of people waiting for a health assessment.
According to figures released by Glasgow South West MP and member of the Work and Pensions Committee, Chris Stephens MP, there are now 312,470 people across the UK waiting for an assessment.
