DWP to enhance PIP experience with new 'light touch' review plans for 10-year awards

Yadnad
Yadnad Posts: 2,866 Championing
edited April 10 in Current affairs

Taken from the Mirror today - Seems that the 10 year/light touch awards will hopefully improve the users 'experience' of claiming PIP as well as being given more information when awarded such an award.

No idea what all of that means but it will only affect new claims next year and those that reach the 10 year point of their current award.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced upcoming reforms to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), confirming changes will affect individuals with a 'light touch' award, usually set for a decade. Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, revealed in a new Green Paper that the plans are set to "plans to consider changes to improve the experience for people who receive these ongoing awards in PIP".

He also mentioned enhancements to the information provided by DWP when issuing an ongoing PIP award, better support for claimants during reviews, and a "reviewing the length of time between 'light touch' reviews". Sir Stephen's remarks responded to a query from Liberal Democrat MP Ian Roome regarding adjustments to "PIP reassessments for claimants suffering from longer-term degenerative conditions".

In his written answer on Tuesday, Sir Stephen noted: "Award reviews are an important feature of Personal Independence Payment to ensure people receive the correct level of benefit, both for those whose needs will increase and those whose needs may decrease."

He went on to explain: "People who receive the highest level of PIP and whose needs will not improve, receive a PIP award for a continuous period with a light touch review at the 10-year point. In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we outline plans to consider changes to improve the experience for people who receive these ongoing awards in PIP.

"These include improving the information we provide when we write to people about ongoing PIP award decisions, what support is offered between 'light touch' reviews and reviewing the length of time between 'light touch' reviews."

The proposed welfare reforms are set to be implemented in November 2026 for new claimants. Existing claimants would not see any changes until their current award is due for review

Am I worried or even care what they do. I'll be 80 when my award comes up for review in 2029!

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Comments

  • Girl_No1
    Girl_No1 Online Community Member Posts: 255 Empowering

    That's a nice position to be in @Yadnad - not having to worry/care.

  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,866 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1015366#Comment_1015366

    Being 80 when my review is due is not in my opinion 'a nice position to be in'

    I have so much wrong with me - health wise now that I would find it extremely difficult to cope with a review/reassessment never mind in another 5 years time.

    I don't have any 4 pointers - just 7, 2 pointers & 3 zeros -14 points in total for care.

    So in the round and if things go the way they want it to with the 4 pointer rule, then it's bye bye PIP - I would not want to go through a full blown reassessment.

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 897 Championing
    edited April 10

    One thing I have been curious about is what happens on the light touch review if there is no 4 point descriptors, is it a free pass, or is it changed to a full review because the last award doesnt meet the new criteria. Yadnad seems to confirm there is at least 1 person in that situation. But as with previous welfare reform, the DWP are trying to play people against each other, offering improvements to the people with the most extreme awards whilst kicking people off with different circumstances. So this press story will be of course to try and pacify the anger that is out there right now. Also am I right its only possible to get ongoing with a double enhanced award?

    My gut feeling is because its an ongoing award technically the award should still stand providing its not a full review, but obviously something more assuring would be appreciated by those in this position.

  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,866 Championing
    edited April 14
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1015422#Comment_1015422

    Absolutely, the 'new' golden rule will be that a 4 pointer MUST be in place even for those that currently receive enhanced for both with a 10 year award AND be over SRP age.

    As you suggest a full review will be required for me in 5 years time to see if I can get a 4 pointer descriptor. There simply cannot be an automatic 'pass' as that would create a two tier system. One for those who have a 10 year award who would be granted a virtue 4 pointer and the rest of society will have to have a 4 pointer.

    Obviously I could close down the PIP award in 5 years and go for Attendance Allowance instead but the Motability car would have to go back thus losing my independence.

    As I have said before, it's getting to the point that I simply am wanting to give up the PIP - the stress alone would finish me off!

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