The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a change for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants who report a change in their health condition. In a written response to a parliamentary question, Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, said that unplanned reviews triggered by a reported change of circumstance will be prioritised alongside new claims.
Waiting times for PIP award reviews fall sharply
Labour MP Claire Hazelgrove, representing Filton and Bradley Stoke, asked in the Commons what assessment the DWP had made of trends in waiting times for PIP review decisions and what steps were being taken to reduce delays.
Sir Stephen replied that the median PIP award review clearance time for 2025 to 2026 is 20 weeks, down from 43 weeks in 2024-25 and 45 weeks in 2023-24. He added: “All claims remain in payment whilst award reviews are in progress and award increases identified during a planned review will be backdated as appropriate.”
Changes to assessment process reduce processing times
Sir Stephen said: “Should customers report a change of circumstance and trigger an unplanned review, their claim will be prioritised alongside new claims.” He further stated: “We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner.
“Reducing customer journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the Department and we are working constantly to make improvements to our service, which is kept under constant review.”
The minister also noted that the DWP’s move to reduce face-to-face assessments for claimants “helps to reduce the time taken to process many cases”.
Claimants must report changes to avoid penalties
Under DWP rules, claimants must report changes to their circumstances so they keep receiving the correct amount of benefits. A claim may be stopped or reduced if a change is not reported immediately or if incorrect information is given.
If a claimant fails to report a change or a mistake, they might be paid too much. In such cases, they may have to repay the overpayment and could also face a £50 penalty. Deliberately failing to report changes constitutes benefit fraud.
