PIP Award - Review Period

Hi TGGTF,

…..and everyone else.

Came across the following online Petitions which may be of some interest to members...

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/218952 (Make everyone with a life time disability mental or physical have life time pip)

and also PIP related...…..

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/220233 (Require DWP assessments for disabled people to take place in hospitals by doctors)

For what it's worth have added my signatures.

Hi Gordon, TGGTF, Porridge & frmarcus,

.....and a Happy New Year to all forum members but special wishes for a productive and successful one are reserved for Gordon and the Work and Benefits Team (without who we would all be in a darker place!). I truly hope that that 2019 will bring everyone further success challenging the DWP and their 'hostile environment" toward the disabled, one we must endure in pursuit of the essential support necessary to maintain some degree of normality in our lives.

So, down to business....during the festive break I came across the following Written Statement to Parliament from Sarah Newton (Minister of State for Disabled People, Health & Work) quietly released on the 'last day of term' as they say!

I think this very much updates post #217330 (see extract below) on this thread from last autumn.

I don't expect this to be something which will be retrospectively applied.

Gordon

This new information (released on 20th December 2018) (www.parliament.uk/business/publications/.../2018-12-20/HCWS1224) will I trust offer at least a small glimmer of hope that common sense has finally prevailed for those of us in receipt of both enhanced rates with a recognised and diagnosed degenerative condition AND subject to a DWP review in the mid/near term that they DO indicate that they intend to implement a retrospective application?

Once verified, if Gordon or the other moderators consider that the news revealed in this post is better served in its own separate thread please move as you consider appropriate.

Personal Independence Payment: House of Commons - Written Statement - HCWS1224

I would like to update the House on the improvements my Department is making in Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The guidance available to PIP Case Managers was updated in August 2018 to ensure those who are awarded the highest level of support whose needs are unlikely to improve or will deteriorate receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the 10 year point. Following on from the introduction of that guidance in August, we have now commenced activity to review the claims of existing claimants on the top level of support to identify those individuals who, in light of the new guidance, should be receiving an ongoing award. This is still in the early stages and being dealt with in date order, prioritising claimants whose awards are coming up for an award review, but commencing this activity is a really important step to reducing the number of individuals having to undergo an unnecessary award review where their needs are only likely to deteriorate.

A copy of the guidance for Case Managers has been placed in the House of Commons Library and is available at: data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files...uidance_10.10.18.pdf

The light touch review process and guidance itself has not yet been developed, but we aim to do so well in advance of the first such reviews taking place. We intend to consult with stakeholders as part of that process.

I hope this heralds better news for some of us in the months to come!

Best regards to all for 2019,

Neil