The DWP has today issued new information about the LEAP project which will check past PIP decisions in the light of changes to the law. Some claimants who were refused PIP are being advised to consider making a new claim.
The review process
We have written extensively elsewhere about changes to the Planning and following journeys activity following the DWP’s attempts to make it harder for claimants with mental health conditions to get an award of the mobility component.
We have also written in detail about changes to the law relating to safety and supervision for PIP.
We now have more information about the way the review will be carried out.
The DWP will not be contacting claimants before they review your award unless they consider that they need more information.
The DWP say they will write to you after the review to let you know the outcome. No timescale is being given for how long it will take to review all the claims involved.
They say they are not planning to carry out any face-to-face assessments as part of the review.
The DWP also say that no-one will have their award reduced as a result of this process.
Planning and following journeys
Information issued today about Planning and following journeys explains that the DWP will be checking:
all current claims,
claims decided on or after 28 November 2016 where PIP was not awarded.
They will not be looking your claim if you have been getting the enhanced rate of both the daily living and mobility parts of PIP since 28 November 2016
If your award is increased it will usually be backdated to 28 November 2016, or if you claimed PIP after 28 November 2016, backdated to the date you started getting PIP.
If the decision to refuse you PIP was made before 28 November 2016, then it will not be looked at again. The DWP advise you to make a fresh claim if you think you might be eligible for an award under the new rules.
Safety and supervision
Information issued today about safety and supervision explains that the DWP will be checking:
all current claims
claims decided on or after 9 March 2017 where PIP was not awarded
They will not be looking your claim if you have been getting the enhanced rate of both the daily living and mobility parts of PIP since 9 March 2017.
If your award is increased it will usually be backdated to 9 March 2017, or if you claimed PIP after 9 March 2017, backdated to the date you started getting PIP.
If the decision to refuse you PIP was made before 9 March 2017 then it will not be looked at again. The DWP advise you to make a fresh claim if you think you might be eligible for an award under the new rules.
You can download the information about the review process from this page.
