The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared a new update for people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) waiting to transfer to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). A temporary “pause” for most DLA to PIP reassessment activity was introduced by DWP in March 2020 as part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
An exception was made for DLA claimants who reported a change in their circumstances. However, DWP has now said it is “currently experiencing unprecedented levels of new claims to PIP” and that reducing journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the Department.
This means that new PIP claims will continue to take priority, along with changes in circumstances for DLA claimants. As a result, DWP said it is “continuing to pause activity to randomly invite eligible adult DLA claimants to claim PIP”.
Pensions Minister, Tom Pursglove MP, shared the update after Conservative MP asked DWP what progress has been made on moving adult claimants on DLA to PIP - a staggered UK-wide process which began in 2013.
Mr Pursglove responded: “We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner.
“We originally introduced a pause for most Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reassessment activity as part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic on 23 March 2020; the exception being for DLA claimants who reported a change in needs.
“We are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of new claims to PIP. Reducing customer journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the department and we are working constantly to make improvements to our service.
“To ensure we have the capacity in place to prioritise new claims and changes in circumstances, we are continuing to pause activity to randomly invite eligible adult DLA claimants to claim PIP.”
Who can move from DLA to PIP?
DWP will invite DLA claimants to make a clam for PIP if they fall into one of the following categories:
- on reaching age 16
- are nearing the end of their DLA award
- report a change of circumstances
The DWP minister added: “Additionally, current DLA claimants who wish to move to claim PIP can do so. DLA claimants who claim PIP in these circumstances continue to receive their DLA while their PIP claim is being assessed.
“This action, combined with improvements we have made to the claimant journey, has meant we are seeing a gradual improvement in new claim clearance times and the latest statistics show that the average end-to-end journey has steadily reduced from 26 weeks in August 2021 to 18 weeks at the end of July 2022.”
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