The Department for Work and Pensions has issued an important message to recipients of Personal Independence Payment, urging them to report any changes in their circumstances that could lead to significantly higher benefit payments.
Claimants Could Secure Additional £633 Every Four Weeks
Senior DWP officials have emphasised that many households may be missing out on substantial financial support because they fail to notify the department when their situation changes. The department's permanent secretary, Peter Schofield, highlighted that disability benefits, particularly PIP, represent the "biggest area of unfulfilled eligibility" within the benefits system.
'Please Let Us Know' Campaign Launched
Mr Schofield told a parliamentary committee: "For most of our benefits, we do rely on the claimant letting us know about a change in circumstance. One of the key things we are increasingly trying to do more of is to remind people to let us know, to make it easier for people to let us know."
The department is running a new campaign called 'Tell us too' which encourages claimants to report changes just as they might inform friends about developments in their lives. "When something has changed in your circumstance, you might tell a friend about it, but can you also tell DWP," Mr Schofield explained. "Please let us know about a change of circumstance, and we can make a difference."
How Changing Circumstances Affect PIP Payments
Personal Independence Payment provides financial support for the extra costs associated with having a long-term health condition, illness or disability. The benefit consists of two components:
- Daily living part: Lower rate - £73.90 weekly, Higher rate - £110.40 weekly
- Mobility part: Lower rate - £29.20 weekly, Higher rate - £77.05 weekly
Claimants can receive different rates for each component independently, meaning someone might qualify for nothing on one element while receiving either the lower or higher rate on the other. The benefit is not means-tested, so income and savings do not affect eligibility or payment amounts.
Substantial Payment Increases Possible
Currently, the minimum weekly payment for PIP claimants is £29.20, equating to £116.80 every four-week payment period. However, if a claimant's health condition worsens and they subsequently qualify for both higher rates, their weekly payment would increase to £187.45, or £749.80 every four weeks.
This represents a substantial £633 increase to each four-weekly payment, highlighting why reporting changing circumstances is so financially significant for claimants.
Prioritising Health Assessment Requests
Mr Schofield explained that the DWP is actively working to encourage people to come forward about worsening health conditions. "We prioritise those requests when they come in, to make sure that they get access to a health assessment quickly, so we can put that right quickly," he stated.
He confirmed that such requests are placed "towards the top of the queue" in the health assessment process for PIP, receiving similar priority to new claims. This approach aims to ensure that claimants receive appropriate payment adjustments as swiftly as possible.
Future Digital Improvements Planned
The DWP is also developing a 'customer account' system that will bring together all DWP benefits in one place. Mr Schofield explained: "The idea is we will get to a point where you can make a change of circumstance on that system and that will then be replicated across all the DWP benefits that you might be receiving."
This digital initiative forms part of broader departmental efforts to simplify the process of reporting changes and ensure claimants receive their full entitlement without unnecessary complications or delays.
