DWP claimants to face digital PIP and disability benefit shake-up

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is developing a new 'digital channel' to make it smoother for those receiving disability benefits, other low-income benefits, and the State Pension to report changes. Addressing the Commons this week, Sir Stephen Timms outlined the current processes, saying: "For disability benefits, the usual route for the customer to notify us of a hospital admission is either via phone or in writing."

He went on to say: "Universal Credit customers can report a hospital stay via a phone call, they can also report it digitally via a journal message on their Universal Credit account or via a third party or supporter if consent has been given."

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He elaborated on future plans: "The department is working on a digital channel for customers which will allow them to tell us about changes in one place. We do have plans to enable this going forward, but the work is not expected to be complete for at least another 12 months. Disability benefits [PIP, DLA], other low-income benefits and later life services [State Pension] are in-scope for this work, but, at present, Universal Credit is not."

Sir Stephen Timms highlighted certain regulations around medical treatment and benefits: "Where an adult aged 18 or over is maintained free of charge while undergoing medical or other treatment as an in-patient in a hospital or similar institution funded by the NHS, payment of (but not entitlement to) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) ceases after 28 days," he clarified.

He further explained: "This is on the basis that the NHS is responsible for not only the person's medical care but also the entirety of their disability-related extra costs and to pay PIP in addition would be a duplication of public funds intended for the same purpose. Once someone is discharged from the hospital, payment of PIP is recommences from the date of discharge."

He assured that "entitlement and payment of the standard allowance of Universal Credit will not change if a customer goes into hospital for treatment and/ or care, regardless of the duration of the stay. If the customer has been found to have limited capacity for work or work-related activity, this element will continue to be paid alongside the Universal Credit standard allowance."