The DWP has had to reduce the number of claimants being forced to move from DLA to PIP in the coming year because staff have been diverted to correcting previous PIP errors. Many claimants will now have a reprieve until later in 2020 or even 2021.

The news was released in a written statement just before the Christmas break, by Sarah Newton Minister of State for Disabled People.

Newton revealed that over 250 staff have been taken on by the DWP to review previous PIP decisions where errors may have been made in relation to cases known as MH and RJ.

The MH decision dealt with overwhelming psychological distress whilst RJ related to safety and supervision.

So far, 140,000 cases have been looked at and 1,000 have been paid arrears of, on average, £4,500.

But, because the 250 staff are not enough to get through all the reviews by the end of 2020, staff are being diverted from DLA to PIP transfers to review the previous errors instead.

The minister did not reveal how many claimants will have their DLA to PIP transfer postponed, but the fact that it was announced in parliament suggest that it will be a significant number. Claimants who have their transfer postponed will now be reassessed for PIP in 2020/21.

The most recent PIP statistics show that there has already been a dramatic slowdown in the transfer rate, with the reduction beginning in August 2018 (see graph below, orange bars).

DLA To PIP transfers

Find out more about how Benefits and Work guides to PIP claims and appeals can help with your DLA to PIP transfer.

Comments

Write comments...
or post as a guest
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

Be the first to comment.

Free PIP, ESA & UC Updates!

Delivered Fortnightly

Over 110,000 claimants and professionals subscribe to the UK's leading source of benefits news.

 
iContact
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.