DWP has announced a major change that could affect thousands of disabled people across the UK.
Many Brits have been facing lengthy delays in getting their needs assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – but a change by the new government could see these waiting times fall.
Instead of undergoing a review or assessment by a healthcare professional, Jobcentre managers are set to take on a larger role in deciding Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims, affecting around 325,000 claimants.
As the backlog of reviews and assessments grows, the DWP has begun a recruitment drive for case managers to tackle the increasing workload.
Labour Minister Sir Stephen Timms confirmed the change to PIP in response to a parliamentary question, stating that assessments will be expedited with case managers making “decisions on reviews, avoiding the need for a functional assessment.”
The modification in how disabled claimants are evaluated for PIP comes as the DWP restructures its contracts for regional benefit assessments.
Despite this, the DWP has acknowledged that it may “take some time” for the new providers to manage the growing volume of required assessments, especially with the surge in long-term disability and sickness cases.
In a candid admission, Minister for Social Security and Disability, Timms, acknowledged the backlog in his written response: “We continue to prioritise new claims to PIP to ensure claims are put into payment as quickly as possible.
“Unfortunately, this means many customers are waiting longer than expected for their review to be undertaken.”
Around 3.4 million individuals are currently receiving financial assistance through Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is disbursed monthly at two different rates, a standard and an enhanced rate.
The standard rate offers £290 per month to those with eligible disabilities, while the enhanced rate provides £434 for those with more severe needs, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The new Labour DWP administration has also implemented changes so that claimants with severe health issues and disabilities are no longer subject to unnecessary reviews.
Minister Timms stated: “We’ve introduced a change for customers with the most severe conditions, on the highest level of support, who now receive an ongoing PIP award which is only subject to a light touch review every 10 years.”
