Huge change to PIP that could make payments quicker for thousands is DELAYED

THE Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has delayed a major change that would make it quicker for people to apply for PIP.

The planned rollout of a national online application system for personal independence payments (PIP) has been delayed, The Sun can reveal.

The DWP had aimed to have the online system available to all applicants across the UK by then end of this year. 

However, The Sun now understands its full roll-out has been delayed for up to “several years”.

This digital application process was intended to coexist with the current phone and postal methods.

PIP is a disability benefit that is given to those with long-term mental or physical health problems or disabilities.

Currently, the online application system is only accessible to a very limited number of applicants – around 60 per day – in select, undisclosed locations across the country.

This delay comes amidst a backdrop of significant strain on the PIP system.

New claims take an average of 20 weeks (five months) to process, while reviews of existing claims can take considerably longer.

As of September 2024, the median wait time for a DWP-initiated review was 290 days when referred to an assessment provider and 252 days when not. 

There’s a backlog of hundreds of thousands of PIP reviews, contributing to an estimated £300 million in delayed payments.

It’s still hoped that when online applications open for all the application journey could reduce decision-making time and shorten the amount of time it takes for claimants to hear back.

The DWP has been contacted for comment.

PIP APPLICATION PROCESS

Most people who apply for PIP have to do so over the phone or via post.

You’ll need to check your eligibility by visiting gov.uk/pip/eligibility before you make a claim.

To start a claim by phone you’ll need to call the ‘PIP new claims’ line on 0800 917 2222.

You’ll then be sent a form that asks about your condition and you’ll need to fill this in and return it to the DWP.

You might need to have an assessment, if more information is needed.

Before you apply you’ll need the following information at hand:

• Your contact details, for example telephone number
• Your date of birth
• Your National Insurance number, if you have one (you can find this on letters about tax, pensions and benefits)
• Your bank or building society account number and sort code
• Your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number
• Dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent in a care home or hospital
• Dates for any time you spent abroad for more than four weeks at a time, and the countries you visited

Households can also make a claim by post by sending a letter to Freepost DWP PIP 1.

You’ll then be sent a form asking for your personal information, such as your address and your age.

If you apply by phone or post, you’ll usually get a form called ‘How your disability affects you’ within 2 weeks.

Fill in the form using the guidance that comes with it, and return it to the address on the form.

Include supporting documents if you have them – for example, prescription lists, care plans, or information from your doctor or others involved in your care.

You then have one month to return it.

For a small minority who want to check if they’re eligible to apply online, you can do so by visiting apply-for-pip.dwp.gov.uk/eligibility/check-if-eligible.

However, there’s no guarantee that your postcode will make you eligible.