New PIP update for 440,000 people due an assessment or coming to end of payment award

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that some 440,000 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award reviews for existing claimants were outstanding at the end of December, 2023.

DWP also confirmed that anyone coming to the end of their PIP award, or those with an overdue review, will be kept updated by text message and payments will continue uninterrupted for up to 12 months.The DWP also shared the measures it is taking to reduce the backlog in a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

It said the main reason for the delay in completing PIP award reviews is “continuing very high demand for PIP” adding that it is receiving an “unprecedented number” of new claims - some 220,000 were registered in the three months to the end of October.DWP explained: “To manage this demand, and ensure cases are put into payment as soon as possible, we are prioritising these claims (new claims).”The DWP recently said that new claims for PIP are now being processed, from point of application to award decision letter being sent out, within 15 weeks.DWP continued: “We have been actively recruiting additional Case Managers to meet the additional demand.

However, it takes time to train and consolidate new entrants. Our Assessment Providers have also been taking steps to increase the number of Healthcare Professionals they employ, but again this takes time and there is an extensive training period to make sure quality standards are met.“For customers waiting for a review, we keep them updated using SMS text messages.