The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that from September it would automatically be extending existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards awaiting review from the current three months by up to 12 months. DWP also said it will do this 35 days before the award is due to end and will be issuing letters to affected claimants at the end of this month.
In June, the former Secretary of State for the DWP and now Deputy Prime Minister, 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 obtained 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.
Confirming the change, a DWP spokesperson said: “We will automatically be extending existing PIP claims awaiting review by up to 12 months and will do this 35 days before their end date.
“The longer extension provides greater certainty for claimants and in particular, helps with continuing to access other support, for example a Blue Badge.
“At present, awards awaiting review have a three month extension, repeated as needed, 28 days before their end date and people can request a letter confirming this and stating their continuing entitlement.”
The DWP will also be sending out letters from the end of October confirming the length of the extended award.
The DWP spokesperson explained: “From 31 October, a letter will be sent automatically to claimants confirming continuing entitlement for up to 12 months. Until then, we will continue to update claimants by text message that their award reviews have been extended. Hope this clarifies.”
If existing PIP claimants need a letter confirming the extension before October 31, they should contact the PIP enquiry helpline on 0800 1214433.
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