The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed significant changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments that will affect all four million claimants. Under the new rules, award reviews will be set at a minimum of three years for new claims, rising to five years at the next review if the claimant remains entitled.
New Review Timelines
This change, announced on Monday, April 27, after months of speculation, is expected to reduce the frequency of award reviews for PIP claimants. PIP is paid at two rates: the daily living part and the mobility component. DWP figures show that six out of ten reviews currently result in no change of award.
Minister's Statement
Sir Stephen Timms, the Labour Party minister leading the Timms Review into PIP, stated: "Reforming the welfare system so that it better meets the needs of disabled people is a priority for the government. A major part of this is ensuring that PIP is fit and fair for the future – and we are taking an important step to improve the system through new legislation, which will reduce the frequency of reviews for many existing PIP customers."
Efficiency and Support
He added: "This will make the system more efficient by freeing up the capacity of health professionals to tackle our inherited assessment backlog, while removing unnecessary pressure from disabled claimants whose conditions rarely change at each review."
Increase in Face-to-Face Assessments
The DWP is also increasing face-to-face assessments for PIP from 6% in 2024 to 30% of all assessments. Sir Stephen noted: "Additionally, my review is looking into how we can bolster PIP for the future, and we have opened a call for evidence for people to share their views on how PIP should be reformed."
Reactions from Disability Charities
Fazilet Hadi, Disability Rights UK’s head of policy, said: "Reducing the frequency of PIP reviews makes sense, both for disabled people and DWP. So often our needs remain the same, and reviews just cause anxiety."
Harriet Edwards, Director of Influencing at the national disability charity Sense, added: "Sense research found over half of disabled PIP claimants with complex needs felt humiliated during their assessment; clearly this process needs to urgently change."
