The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared new measures in place to improve the decision-making process for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims.
Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary, Jonathan Ashworth MP, recently asked what steps DWP is taking to “reduce the incidence of individuals being refused a PIP award at initial claim and Mandatory Reconsideration before receiving an award due to lapsed appeal”. In a written response earlier this week, Minister for Disabled People Tom Pursglove MP said the DWP’s aim is to “make the right decision as early as possible in the process”.
He explained: “We have made improvements to the decision-making process at both the first decision and the Mandatory Reconsideration stage, giving Decision Makers additional time to proactively contact claimants if they think additional evidence may support the claim.”
Mr Pursglove added: “We are continuing to learn from decisions overturned at appeal. For example, we gather insight from Presenting Officers who regularly provide feedback from hearings they attend, with a view to learning from overturned decisions.”
Recent figures show that during the 2022/23 financial year, some 5,300 people successfully challenged the DWP over its initial decision not to award them PIP. Of that total, some 1,500 claimants have also been awarded at least one enhanced payment rate of either the daily living or mobility component of the disability benefit through the Mandatory Reconsideration process.
The figures include Mandatory Reconsideration outcomes up to December 30, 2022, which means the number of successful appeals could increase as more data is collated. During the 2021/22 financial year, 24,100 PIP claimants had an award decision given through Mandatory Reconsideration with 7,600 receiving at least one enhanced component payment rate.
Following the annual benefits uprating, PIP is now worth between £26.90 and £101.75 each week to successful claimants. Adult Disability Payment replaced PIP in Scotland for new claimants in August 2022 and is paid at the same weekly rate.
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