The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted it cannot trace around 2,400 people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) who may be due back payments averaging £5,600 each. The revelation came as the department announced the completion of a major review of historical benefit decisions following a Supreme Court judgment in 2019.
In a written statement to Parliament, Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms said the DWP had reviewed 350,000 cases and made 48,000 arrears payments totalling £270 million. That works out at around £5,625 per claimant. However, a separate statistical report shows that around 2,400 additional claimants have been identified as benefiting from the exercise but have not yet received the money owed to them.
The DWP report states: 'Around 2,400 further claimants have been identified as benefitting from the exercise and are due a back payment following a review of their claim. However, the department has not been able to identify a payee to receive the payment and is unable to identify a representative or make contact.'
The review followed a Supreme Court judgment handed down in July 2019 concerning how 'social support' should be considered when assessing a claimant's ability to engage with other people face to face. The ruling affected Daily Living Activity 9 of the PIP assessment and led to changes in DWP guidance for new claims from September 2020.
Sir Stephen stressed that no claimant should have lost money because of either review. He said: 'All reviews have been carried out by a case manager within the Department and no one should have seen their PIP reduced because of these exercises.' Although both review exercises have now formally ended, Sir Stephen confirmed that people who believe they may have been affected can still ask DWP to review their case.
PIP helps more than 3.9 million people in England and Wales with the extra costs associated with a long-term health condition or disability. Anyone who believes a past PIP decision may have been affected by either the MM judgment or the LB tribunal decision can contact DWP and request a review of their claim by calling the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433.
