Department for Work and Pensions Cuts PIP for 200,000 Recipients Following Review
The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) just lately accomplished a significant evaluate of the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) system, which presents monetary assist to folks with well being circumstances or disabilities that have an effect on their skill to hold out on a regular basis duties. Following this evaluate, round 220,000 recipients have had their PIP withdrawn.
The evaluate course of lasted for 5 years, from February 2019 to January 2024. During this time, the DWP re-evaluated the circumstances of PIP recipients to find out their ongoing eligibility for monetary help.
Recipients are recurrently assessed by the DWP to find out whether or not their well being has improved to the purpose the place they now not require monetary assist. These assessments often happen on the finish of an outlined interval or when a claimant experiences a change in circumstances.
PIP System Review Outcomes
The evaluate produced a number of findings. 20% of the assessments resulted within the discontinuation of funds as claimants now not met the required standards. In distinction, 52% of claimants had been permitted to proceed receiving PIP. 19% of the reviewed instances resulted in a rise in assist quantity, whereas 8% skilled a discount in cost.
Outcome | Percentage (%) |
---|---|
Payments stopped | 20 |
Payments continued | 52 |
Increase in cost | 19 |
Decrease in cost | 8 |
DWP’s Stance
The DWP has just lately indicated that it’s dealing with an “unprecedented” improve in requests for assist. This may very well be because of elevated consciousness of PIP and an ageing inhabitants.
Allowances might be reviewed both when a claimant experiences a change in circumstances or on the finish of the evaluate interval set when the allowance was initially awarded. When an allowance is reviewed, the extent of the allowance is assessed and could also be modified (which can occur with or with out the case first being referred to an evaluation supplier).
Increase in DWP Universal Credit funds
Despite the PIP cuts, the Department for Work and Pensions will improve funds to tens of millions of individuals on Universal Credit subsequent month. As a part of the Autumn Statement 2023, the Chancellor introduced that Universal Credit and different Department for Work and Pensions profit funds will improve within the new monetary 12 months.
During the parliamentary session, the Chancellor introduced that the federal government would elevate Universal Credit and different advantages by 6.7%, in accordance with September’s inflation figures. This improve, efficient from April 1, will end in a median of £470 for 5.5 million households.
£900 Boost in State Pension Rates
Next month, state pensions will improve by as much as £900 for pensioners, as introduced in final 12 months’s autumn assertion. The Chancellor confirmed that the triple lock on pensions could be upheld, with pensions set to rise from April 1.
The triple lock scheme ensures a rise consistent with common earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is greater. Pensions will rise by 8.5% subsequent month.
“We honour our commitment to the triple lock in full. We will increase the new state pension by 8.5 per cent, worth up to £900 more a year.” Said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.