Closing PIP voluntarily for Personal Reasons

ilovechickpeas
ilovechickpeas Community Member Posts: 46 Connected
in PIP, DLA, ADP & AA

Hi everyone,

I currently receive PIP (£412/month, Daily Living and Mobility) and want to voluntarily close my PIP claim for personal reasons. I’m also on Universal Credit with LCWRA, which meets my financial needs.

I have three questions I’d really appreciate advice on:

  1. Can I voluntarily close my PIP claim for personal reasons without triggering a health review or medical reassessment?
  2. Will closing PIP affect my LCWRA status on Universal Credit?
  3. I have an ongoing UC MR/Tribunal appeal (supported by CAB) to get my LCWRA backdated to before November 2025, will closing PIP affect this appeal or any backdated UC payments?

My plan is to send a formal tracked letter to DWP clearly stating this is a voluntary relinquishment for personal reasons, and explicitly stating it is not a change of circumstances or notification of health improvement.

Is this the safest approach? And are my UC elements fully protected?

Thanks in advance.

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Comments

  • kreacher
    kreacher Community Member Posts: 402 Empowering

    i would suggest you make an appointment with the cab, they may advise you better

  • flour
    flour Community Member Posts: 143 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/146561/closing-pip-voluntarily-for-personal-reasons

    If you close your PIP claim this information may be shared with Universal Credit - Universal Credit may not get to see the letter you sent to PIP explaining the situation and may therefore think your health has improved if you are no longer on PIP.

    If you do not share the reason why you wish to close the claim on the forum I can only give general advice. Such as -

    A) If you close the PIP claim because of a change in health then you may also need to report this to Universal Credit and this may affect your LCWRA.

    B) If you close the PIP claim due to being unable to cope with parts of the process of claiming PIP - such as 'the anxiety of a PIP review is too much to cope with' then you can write to them but also explain this to them.

    If your health means you should still be getting PIP then you should not close the claim - if your financial circumstances changed and you then found that you needed the extra £400 per month you'd be waiting at least 6 to 9 months get back on PIP again (and that's assuming they give it to you on the first try).

    I hope this helps? If you decide to share the 'personal reasons' in more detail I hope the forum can give more specific advice and I will try and come back on and help further.

  • oldmanmarple
    oldmanmarple Community Member Posts: 30 Connected

    isnt pip getting tied to lcwra in the future? would be foolish to get rid if you qualify id be asking questions if i was dwp

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,119 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1127924#Comment_1127924

    Yes. In a few years time (approx 2028) you'll need PIP to get the Health Element of UC.

    Currently, an existing LCWRA claimant shouldn't be affected immediately. But if they do re-assess after 2028 for any reason, it'll be a PIP based assessment that the claimant needs to pass. If they already have PIP, that should be easier than if they don't.

    I have also considered ending my PIP after I pass 35. (Meaning I'll get one-bed rate LHA without the PIP gateway). Like the OP, I do not need PIP to cover my monthly costs. However, the future changes to UC Health Element mean that I am now reconsidering that choice.

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