Thousands of people are being forced to wait for months on end to hear whether they will continue to receive disability benefit, or require a higher payment (Image: Getty)

DWP in crucial waiting times update for benefit claimants as it makes backlog confession

16 Nov 2024, 02:49 by Linda Howard, William Morgan, https://www.facebook.com/LindaHowardDR · Birmingham Live

A minister has confessed that thousands of benefit claimants are being forced to endure lengthy waits for their cases to be reviewed, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) grapples with an ever-increasing number of adults applying for the Personal Independence Payment. Some claimants are waiting three months for their cases to be reviewed, while others are waiting over a year.

The DWP has provided a crucial update on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) waiting times for those awaiting an award review. Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, revealed that claimants reporting a change in circumstances typically wait an average of 69 working days for their PIP to be reviewed, nearly 14 weeks.

He also disclosed that when the DWP initiates a review - usually if someone is nearing the end of their award - that requires an assessment by a health provider, the average waiting time is 290 working days, around 58 weeks. If the benefit claimant does not require an assessment, it takes on average 252 working days for the review to be completed, approximately 50 weeks.

Sir Stephen has emphasised that although some PIP claimants might face over a year's wait for their award review, there will be no interruption in their payments during this period. This policy to continue payments amidst reviews was introduced last year as the number of PIP claimants soared to unprecedented levels, enabling the DWP to focus on processing new claims and maintaining support for existing beneficiaries, reports the Daily Record.

Thousands of disabled benefit claimants are having to wait months, or even more than a year, to have their claims reviewed (Image: Getty)

The current figure of PIP recipients stands at over 3.6 million across Great Britain, with the count having surged by more than a third since the onset of the covid pandemic. In a written reply dated November 14, following an inquiry from Labour MP Mary Glindon about the waiting times for PIP award reviews, the DWP Minister disclosed these statistics, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Sir Stephen stated: "We make every effort to conduct award reviews as soon as possible. Most decisions are made without the need for an assessment by a Healthcare Professional."

He further clarified: "Where the claimant requests a review of their Personal Independence Payment award, the median wait is 69 working days as of September 2024. When the review is initiated by the department, the median wait for a decision that is referred to an assessment provider is 290 working days as of September 2024, and 252 days where it is not referred to an assessment provider."

He further stated: "Whilst reviews are outstanding, all payments to existing claimants continue. Should a review identify eligibility for an increased award, backdated payments will be made where appropriate to ensure claimants are not adversely impacted by delays."

For reporting any changes in circumstances, he advised contacting the PIP inquiry line on 0800 121 4433, with full details available on GOV. UK here.