The DWP has brought forward the date when claimants with an ‘indefinite’ or ‘lifetime’ award of disability living allowance (DLA) will be forced to claim personal independence payment (PIP).
The decision is a deliberate snub to campaigners, and to the courts, after delays in processing PIP claims were found to be unlawful just last month.
1,800 assessments a day
3,000 claimants will now start being assessed for PIP from 13 July 2015, instead of from October, to allow the DWP to test the reassessment process, including letters and phone call scripts.
The number being tested is then intended to rise massively, to an average of around 1,800 reassessments every day throughout 2016. All working age DLA claimants will have been assessed for PIP by late 2017, if things go according to plan.
Over half will lose out
More than half of all existing DLA claimants are expected to lose out under PIP, getting a lower award or nothing at all.
In their original estimates made in 2012, the DWP expected:
29% of reassessed claimants to end up with an increase in their award
16% of reassessed claimants to stay the same
29% of reassessed claimants to end up with a decreased award
26% of reassessed claimants to end up with no award at all
I am 62…now on state pension ie not of working age. I currently receive full DLA, as I am very dependent on carers. I was awarded DLA indefinitely back in 2000.
I believe people over 64 will not have to apply for PIP.
I had a letter a while ago, telling me I will have to apply for PIP.
From 22 June 2015
The PIP reassessment areas extend to postcodes beginning: BA; BH, BN; BR; CR; CT; DT; E; EC; GU; HP; IG; LU; ME; OX; RG; RH; SE; SG; SW; WC
If you are in one of these areas and your fixed term DLA award is due to end on or after 9 November 2015 you will receive a PIP claim form rather than a DLA renewal claim form.
Any DLA claimant reporting a change in circumstances which might affect their award will be assessed for PIP rather than DLA from 22 June 2015 in these postcode districts, any existing DLA claimant who turns 16 years old may also be assessed for PIP.
From July 2015
The PIP reassessment areas extend to postcodes beginning: AL; EN; HA; HS; KT; KW; N; NW; SL; SM; TN; TW; UB; W; WD; ZE
If you are in one of these areas and your fixed term DLA award is due to end on or after 14 December 2015 you will receive a PIP claim form rather than a DLA renewal claim form.
Any DLA claimant reporting a change in circumstances which might affect their award will be assessed for PIP rather than DLA from 28 July 2015 in these postcode districts, any existing DLA claimant who turns 16 years old may also be assessed for PIP.
From 13 July 2015
From 13 July 2015, everyone still getting DLA will be invited to claim for PIP.
The first postcodes where DLA claimants with an indefinite award will start to be transferred are:
BB; BL; DE; LE; M; OL; PR; ST; WA and WN.
By late 2017
All existing DLA claimants (aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013) will have been invited to claim PIP.
The most recent DWP factsheet on reassessment dates is available from this link.
Payments are usually backdated from time of application. joining Benefits and Work organisation will help guide you through all the questions - they tell you the best way to answer them. lts good to have a helping hand at stressful times like filling in benefit forms.