The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been urged to stop what campaigners describe as 'unnecessary' Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reassessments affecting hundreds of thousands of disabled people with lifelong conditions. According to a report from Z2K, shared with The Guardian, many claimants with conditions that are unlikely to improve are being subjected to repeated reviews.
Key Findings from Z2K Data
Data from the charity reveals that three in four people with learning disabilities, 86 per cent of those who have undergone an amputation, and 62 per cent of claimants with cerebral palsy were given fixed-term awards. This means they are required to undergo reassessments every three years, despite having conditions that are permanent or progressive. The figures also include the vast majority of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease, conditions that typically do not improve over time.
The analysis found that 500,000 reassessments last year resulted in no change to the claimant's award. This includes many cases where individuals are already receiving the highest possible payments and their health is unlikely to improve.
Current PIP Award System
PIP awards are typically given for fixed periods. Many are short-term, lasting two years or less. People with conditions that are unlikely to get better or worse may receive awards lasting between five and ten years. In August 2023, the DWP introduced a new 'light touch' review process for claimants on the highest levels of PIP with awards of ten years or more, or those over state pension age. These individuals may not be reassessed if it appears to the DWP that little has changed.
Campaigner Criticism
Samuel Thomas, senior policy adviser at Z2K, criticised the current system, stating: 'Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) guidance says disabled people with lifelong and progressive conditions should not be reassessed more than once a decade – but the data shows these rules simply aren’t being followed.' He added: 'Shockingly high proportions of disabled people qualifying on the basis of lifelong disabilities like cerebral palsy, permanent hearing loss and amputated limbs are being forced to undergo pointless reassessments, even though their disabilities will not change.'
Thomas acknowledged recent changes but argued they do not go far enough: 'The move is a welcome recognition of the system’s wastefulness, but it doesn’t address the core issues with the system. These changes do not affect the rules or guidance that are keeping disabled people wrongly trapped on fixed-term awards, and they won’t reduce the numbers of people subject to full reassessment. All they will do is make reassessments slightly less frequent.'
DWP Response
A DWP spokesperson defended the system, saying: 'We’re taking action to fix the broken welfare system we inherited, including by extending award review periods which will remove unnecessary pressure on disabled people and help to deliver savings of around £2bn.' The spokesperson added: 'Rather than their diagnosis alone, the assessment considers how well someone can manage PIP activities so outcomes depend on individual circumstances.'
The DWP also highlighted the Timms Review, launched as part of ongoing reforms, which is co-produced with disabled people and their representative organisations to ensure PIP is 'fit and fair for the future, including reassessments.'
