PIP Assessments DWP Changes, New PIP Providers for Each Region The Department for Work Pensions has announced changes to PIP and the Work Capability Assessment, which come into effect from 7 September 2024. PIP recipients and new claimants can find the key changes to the PIP assessment and other details here. The UK Government provides financial support to people who have a long-term disability or physical or mental health conditions and who need care or help to carry out their daily tasks, through Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
This year, the previous UK Government agreed to some changes to PIP, now, following a review of proposed changes through PIP and the Supreme Court ruling on PIP assessments, the DWP has announced changes to PIP and the Work Capability Assessment, which come into effect from 7 September 2024. The changes to PIP assessments come as many PIP claimants are still waiting for their PIP payments of around £5000. PIP claimants living in England, Northern Ireland and Wales will face changes to PIP assessments as new companies take over the PIP system. The main change is that the new providers will oversee the PIP process and system for each area, rather than a single provider in one area as we saw before the changes.
What are other DWP PIP assessment Changes?
- Health assessments for PIP claims will be carried out by the DWP through a single company for each region to assess claimants’ ability to carry out daily work and health conditions.
- The PIP assessment changes do not apply to Scottish PIP claimants as PIP will move from the Department for Work and Pensions to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) by the end of next year, however, the changes may affect benefits required for Universal Credit or WCA.
- The PIP assessment changes will apply to the following benefits:
- Employment and Support Allowance (ECA)
- Industrial Injury Disability Benefit
- Universal Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (not for Scotland)
- PIP claimants will receive a letter from their PIP provider and if the date is after 07 September 2024, claimants should know it is from their new provider. The letter will contain information about your appointment with your PIP provider and instructions on how to complete your PIP assessment. If PIP claimants have lost the letter, they can check their provider using their area’s postcode on the UK Government’s official website
New PIP Providers for Each Region
PIP claimants or other benefit claimants who have a PIP assessment or work capability assessment can check their provider company by region below:
- South West England: Serco
- Northern Ireland: Capita Business Services
- Scotland and Northern England: Maximum UK Services Ltd
- Midlands and Wales: Capita
- South East England, East Anglia and London: Ingeus UK Ltd
How will it affect the way you claim PIP?
- PIP claimants will not see any changes to the PIP claim process as the complete process is still the same except for the assessment and the new providers. It is believed that the new providers will not bring significant changes to the way PIP is actually processed and worked.
- Face to face meetings within a 90 minute journey from the applicant’s home are still part of the assessment and assessments will still take place on the first floor to ensure easy access and convenience for claimants.
- Claimants can bring a companion with them to support them and proof read on the applicant’s behalf. Doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, paramedics and health professionals will still carry out PIP assessments.
Will the PIP payments change to Vouchers and one-grant?
The newly formed Labour government will decide whether PIP payments will continue with the present weekly payment system or propose changes to it. Recently, the DWP has reviewed proposed changes to PIP payments which include:
- PIP vouchers and lump sum grants: Proposed changes to replace the present cash payment system with PIP vouchers and lump sum grants. PIP vouchers will cover additional living costs for PIP claimants, such as daily living essentials, healthy diet items, etc. One-off grants will help claimants cover specific costs related to their disability or health condition, such as home adaptations, specific health equipment, etc.
The proposed changes to the PIP payment method are still in question as the new government has not decided on the proposed changes.
At the moment PIP claimants can expect to see changes to providers in PIP assessments and WCAs due to changes in companies, PIP claimants who are due to be assessed should check with their provider based in their area and follow the instructions in the letter they have received and contact their provider to go ahead with the new changes to PIP assessments.
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