The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are now in force. In its August LA Welfare Direct bulletin, the DWP issued an update on the “Extension of the Recommended Review Period for Personal Independence Payment awards,” stating that the process of extending PIP awards to introduce a minimum 3-year review period has been completed.
The bulletin explains that the PIP team in the DWP made changes to the Recommended Review Period (RRP), extending the end date of current PIP awards. The process of changing the RRP commenced on 16 June 2026 and resulted in a significant increase in the number of Automated Transfer to Local Authority Systems (ATLAS) alerts for PIP and other affected benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance. The DWP has now confirmed that the process of extending these awards has been completed, and the volume of PIP ATLAS notifications should return to normal levels.
Communication improvements for local authorities
The Local Authority Partnership, Engagement and Delivery (LA-PED) division is working with internal colleagues to enhance its communication approach. The aim is to provide earlier notification of similar activities in the future, allowing local authorities (LAs) to plan effectively for any potential impacts. Tracy Williams, Head of Local Authority Funding, Analysis, Business Insight and Statistics Team, Local Authority Partnership, Engagement and Delivery division, also contributed a foreword to the bulletin regarding the changes.
The extension means that PIP claimants will now have a minimum of three years between reviews, rather than the previous shorter intervals. This change applies to current PIP awards and is designed to reduce the frequency of reassessments for claimants whose conditions are unlikely to improve.
New email address for ESA LA17 submissions
In the same bulletin, the DWP confirmed changes to the email address used for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) LA17 submissions. Going forward, local authorities are advised that the previous email address, norwich.scesachanges@dwp.gov.uk, is no longer in use. There is no change to the existing LA17 process or to the information LAs are required to provide; the only change is the email address used to submit ESA LA17 notifications.
With immediate effect, LAs should send ESA LA17 submissions to esaclaimsmaintenance.hub3@dwp.gov.uk. The DWP advises that LAs update any internal guidance, procedures and contact lists to reflect this change, ensuring that submissions are received and processed promptly. The new inbox should be used for ESA LA17 submissions only.
Any ESA LA17 submissions sent to the former mailbox may not be received, which could result in delays or submissions not being actioned. The DWP has stressed the importance of using the new address to avoid disruption to the processing of ESA claims.
