Plans to tackle the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) backlog by hiring new staff have been welcomed by campaigners, who say the system has been ‘plagued by backlog for too long’.
Disability equality charity Scope said “it’s good to see the DWP sticking its finger out” after the department announced it has hired more than 100 new staff to carry out PIP assessments to deliver a address growing backlogs and historic delays. It plans to hire a total of 2,000 new raters.
But some campaigners have warned that they “remain concerned” about the knowledge of case managers who carry out assessments to determine someone’s level of support, and “the apparently low level of training they receive.”
The move, announced late last week, is part of a wider shake-up in the benefits system that has begun to unfold since Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor came to power.
Here you can read what you need to know about the revision and what consequences it may have for you.
What is PIP?
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit designed to help working-age adults with the additional costs of living with a health condition or disability.
It replaced the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in 2013 and is available to people aged between 16 and state pension age.
The payments can help cover the extra costs associated with living with a disability or long-term health condition, such as higher heating costs, special diets, equipment or taxi fares.
Problems with PIP
Long payment delays, invasive assessments and payment denials have plagued PIP applicants.
For many people claiming benefits, there can be a long wait before their claim is even processed.
As of May 31, 2024, there were 392,000 open reviews in England and Wales. Without any significant change, it could take a decade to clear the backlog, according to research from the charity Disability Rights UK.
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Timms acknowledged that “many” benefit recipients are “waiting longer than expected for it to be reviewed”.
Some claimants have criticized the invasive assessment process that rates the severity of their disabilities, which in some cases has left claimants such as veterans retraumatized.
The level of PIP a person receives depends on the number of points he/she “scores” during the assessment – and whether he or she qualifies for the payment at all.
Historically, an overwhelming number of applicants have had their PIP payments reinstated through an appeal.
The DWP says it loses 70% of appeals because claimants provide new evidence, but disability charities dispute that figure, saying 59% of cases are overturned even when they present the same evidence.
What are the changes?
The DWP says it will train new case managers to work on less complex claims, giving more experienced case managers more time to review cases.
As of August 2023, there were 1,847 full-time case workers. By August 2024, this number has increased to 1,948, and further recruitment is planned.
Timms told Civil Service World on October 3: “We have been actively recruiting additional case managers to meet the increased demand for PIP, which means we are now in a position to commit additional resources to price assessments. This will increase the number of assessment cases that we can handle ‘in-house’.”
The companies that carry out workplace assessments have also changed.
PIP assessment – as well as work ability assessments for other benefits such as ESA and Universal Credit – will be assessed by just one provider in one region, rather than several different ones.
Previously, individuals filled out a form and were then assessed by a healthcare professional. Now people can count on being assessed by an employee who works across the region.
The change of assessor has no consequences for the assessment process as it currently stands. Valuation appointments must still be carried out within 90 minutes of the claimant’s home, and for ground floor accessibility.
The government has plans to reform the assessment process for claiming PIP, which will be set out in due course.
What has the reaction been?
The move was also praised by disability equality charity Scope, which said that “it’s good to see the DWP lifting its finger” as PIP has “been plagued by backlog for too long.”
David Southgate, policy manager, told Yahoo News: “It is also important that they make more of an effort to get the assessment right and give people with disabilities the support they need to live their lives.
“Life costs more when you are disabled. Scope research shows that these costs average £1,010 per month for disabled people to have the same standard of living. The low amount offered by PIP does not go far enough at the moment.”
Linda Burnip, the founder of Disabled People Against Cuts, said that “any move to reduce wait times for claims processing seems positive.”
“However, we remain concerned about the knowledge of case managers and the apparently low level of training they receive,” she added.
The DWP has insisted that “despite the terrible legacy this government faces” it is “taking immediate action to ensure vulnerable people are supported and protected.”
A spokesperson told Yahoo News: “Advocating for the rights of people with disabilities so that their views and voices are heard is at the heart of this administration, and we want to ensure that people with disabilities and those with health conditions have access to financial support through PIP. timely.”
How to claim PIP?
First, potential recipients should check their eligibility. They can do that here.
They will then be instructed to call the government’s PIP new claims phone line, where you will be required to provide contact details and important information such as your date of birth, social security number, your doctor’s name and bank details. If you are unable to make the call yourself, someone else can do so on your behalf or be added to the call.
The government then sends a form that each potential recipient must complete.
From there, the applicant may need to be assessed for more information through a work capacity assessment (WCA). This involves assessing the severity of a person’s disability to see how much funding can be provided.
Currently there are two levels for both daily life and mobility. For the first rate, the standard rate is £72.65 per week and the increased rate is £108.55 per week. For mobility, the standard rate is £28.70 per week and the increased rate is £75.75 per week. The rate depends on how many points you “score” during the assessment.
The DWP will then decide whether that person is eligible for PIP payments.