DWP Claimants Face New Review Form Amid PIP Award Reductions
DWP claimants are urged to be cautious with a new review form that may lead to reduced PIP awards or loss of benefits.
PIP, DWP, Benefits, Disability, UK
Manchester: So, there’s some news for folks claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP). A group that advocates for these claimants is sounding the alarm about a new review form. They say it seems set up to make it easier for people to lose their benefits or see their payments cut.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rolled out this new form in November. They wanted to make it shorter and simpler than the old one, which was a hefty 38 pages. But here’s the catch: critics are worried that the new form is actually designed to get claimants to provide less information, which could hurt their chances of keeping their benefits.
When someone’s PIP award is up for review, they get this form to fill out. It asks how their disability still affects their daily life. The tricky part is that how they answer can really impact their cash support.
While the DWP cut down the form to 25 pages, the questions have changed too. They’re now more like the ones on the initial PIP claim form, which could trip people up. The advocacy group Benefits and Work is advising claimants to be super detailed in their responses to avoid any nasty surprises.
Instead of just saying “no change,” they’re encouraged to provide as much info as they can from their original claim. But here’s the kicker: the new form gives way less space to write, making it tough for some to explain their situation fully.
Instead of a whole A4 page, there’s just a tiny box for each question. This could really make it hard for people to get their point across. The forum mentioned that many have had to go to tribunal just to get their awards back after losing them during the review.
Since the new form came into play, DWP stats show a rise in people losing their PIP awards or having them reduced. About 19% of folks lost their PIP after a review, and another 7% saw their payments cut.
Benefits and Work advises claimants not to feel limited by the small boxes on the form. They suggest using extra sheets if needed to provide all the necessary details about their needs.
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