The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has completed a major review of historical Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions, resulting in 48,000 arrears payments totalling £270 million – an average of around £5,625 per claimant. However, approximately 2,400 individuals who are due back payments have not yet received them because the DWP cannot trace them.
The review was prompted by the 2019 Supreme Court MM judgment, which changed how 'social support' is assessed under Daily Living Activity 9 of the PIP assessment. The DWP reviewed 350,000 cases and made payments worth £266 million to around 47,000 claimants under the main exercise. A further 2,400 claimants have been identified as benefiting but remain untraceable.
In a written statement to Parliament, Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms said: 'DWP reviewed 350,000 cases and made 48,000 payments in arrears, totalling £270 million.' He stressed that no claimant should have seen their PIP reduced as a result of the reviews.
A separate exercise linked to the LB Upper Tribunal decision, which changed how time spent managing therapy and medication is assessed, reviewed around 44,000 cases and resulted in fewer than 100 arrears payments worth £188,000.
Although both exercises have formally ended, claimants who believe they may have been affected can still request a review by contacting the DWP. The PIP enquiry line is available on 0800 121 4433, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
