DWP officials have told MPs that many PIP claimants could receive higher payments if they report worsening health conditions, with visiting officers available to help
The DWP has discussed its efforts to ensure PIP claimants receive the correct award. PIP (Personal Independence Payment) supports individuals living with a long-term health condition or disability, helping cover their additional costs. The benefit has multiple rates of payment, with the amount determined by the level of need.
Senior officials from the department informed MPs recently that the biggest area where those who are eligible for benefits fail to receive their rightful payments is disability benefits, particularly PIP. Permanent secretary at the DWP Peter Schofield told the Work and Pensions Committee that, regrettably, many existing claimants could receive considerably more but lose out.
Claimants may be entitled to increased PIP payments if their health condition deteriorates. Mr Schofield said: “We encourage people to come forward and let us know about a worsening in their health condition.”
He outlined how DWP officials can even visit someone’s home to assist them in applying to secure higher PIP payments, reports the Mirror. Mr Schofield said: “We have our visiting service that goes out to people’s homes. I think in something like 28,000 cases last year we had a visiting officer who went out to someone’s home to help them make a claim for a change in their PIP award, so helping people in person.”
He outlined which type of claimants might require this additional support. The senior official stated: “These are people who have a severe condition. That is the best way to help them and we send visiting officers out to help people fill in their PIP claims.”
He shared an example of a woman in south London who was bedridden and requiring constant care, where officials visited her home to assist her with claiming PIP. Mr Schofield stated: “We do that for people who are also already on the benefit or where there has been a worsening in condition where they need that support.”
He also discussed the department’s ‘case management’ system, where someone from the DWP will telephone a claimant to assist them in understanding the process, and also to clarify why they have been awarded the amount they have.
Mr Schofield stated: “When the decision is made, they help them to understand why the decision was made, because people often get this letter through the post and they do not understand why they have had this decision. It can be talked through and they can then feel they can trust the decision that has been made.”
