People receiving a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) light-touch award that is coming to an end this year can expect reviews to start this month.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said “in most cases” an assessment with a health professional won’t be needed.
The form people will need to fill in has also been revised and is much shorter than the initial AR1 form, in a move made by the DWP to simplify and improve the process. The new form has also been launched in August.
The update provided by the DWP reads: “The first light-touch reviews start in August and will involve a short form to check whether anything has changed, so we can adjust the award if needed and confirm we hold up-to-date information. In most cases, an assessment with a health professional will not be required.”
PIP was first introduced in 2013 with the intention that people who received ongoing awards would have a “light-touch” review after 10 years.
Ongoing rewards (which have no end date) are typically reserved for those who need the highest level of support and whose needs are “only likely to increase”. In 2019, this also stretched to include most people who have reached the state pension age (currently 66).
With many who received the PIP award from its launch in 2013 approaching the point to be reviewed, the new form has been brought out just in time.
According to Benefits and Work, the new and improved six-page form (AR2) covers:
- Identity and contact details
- Immigration status
- Your main healthcare professional
- Details of any changes to your health condition or disability
- Details of any changes to your daily living needs
- Details of any changes to your mobility needs
- Your consent to allow the DWP to collect further information.
Claimants are given a time limit in which to return the form. Those who fail to meet this deadline may rise their award drawing to an end but according to Benefits and Work, this is a decision which can be appealed against.
What is PIP and how much is it worth?
PIP is distributed by the DWP and is targeted to help people who need extra help with daily tasks or getting around due to long-term illness, disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions.
There are two components to PIP, a daily living part for those who need help with everyday tasks, and a mobility part for those who need help moving around. Each comes with a standard rate and an enhanced rate.
Whether people get one or both parts and how much they get depends on how difficult they find individual tasks, and people can apply even if they’re working, have savings, or are already receiving other benefits.
The current standard and enhanced PIP payment rates are as follows:
Daily living tasks
- Standard rate – £68.10 a week
- Enhanced rate – £101.75 a week
Mobility tasks
- Standard rate – £26.90 a week
- Enhanced rate – £71 a week.
