DWP halts PIP changes aimed at speeding up claims for £737 payments

PIP changes aimed at speeding up the process of applying for disability benefits have reportedly been halted. The Department for Work and Pensions is reported to have delayed the national rollout of an online application system for Personal Independence Payment.

The DWP started trialling online PIP applications in January 2022 and aimed to make them available across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024. Scotland is replacing PIP with its own Adult Disability Payment so it is not included in these latest changes.

Online applications are currently only available to around 60 people a day in select locations. But amid massive strain on resources, with huge numbers of new claims and a backlog of existing claims caught in lengthy delays for a review, the DWP has scaled back the revamp, which would have enabled even more applications to enter an already overloaded system.

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The DWP had aimed to have the online system available to all applicants across the UK by the end of this year. However, The Sun says it has learned that the full rollout has been delayed for as long as "several years". Existing ways of applying by phone or post would have remained in place after the digital application process was introduced.

New claims for PIP take an average of 15 weeks, according to the latest DWP statistics, from initial registration to a decision being made, including 10 weeks from being referred to an assessment. Waiting times for reviews of existing claims are an average of 290 days if another assessment is needed and 252 days if it isn't. To check if online applications are available in your area, you can type in your postcode on GOV.UK.

PIP can be awarded to help with the extra costs of a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition and pays up to £737 every four weeks. It is based on how difficult someone finds it to carry out everyday tasks such as getting dressed, bathing and preparing a meal, or get around.

A phone claim can be started by calling the PIP new claims line on 0800 917 2222. You are then sent a form to explain how your disability affects you and need to return it within one month, including any supporting documents such as prescription lists, care plans, and information from your doctor or others involved in your care. An assessment may be carried out in person, on the phone or by video call where you will be asked to go into more detail about how your conditions affect your daily life.

The DWP has been asked for comment on why it is reported to have delayed the rollout of digital PIP applications.

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