DWP law change for PIP claimants ‘increases payments’ for state pensioners | Personal Finance | Finance
State pensioners could be owed extra money after a DWP review relating to Personal Independence Payments.
A change to PIP laws means claimants who are over state pension age may be able to put a claim in for extra cash.
A tribunal ruling in May 2020 identified an ‘unintentional gap’ in PIP payments relating to the enhanced mobility award, which assesses a claimant’s ‘ability to move around’.
The government says: “The change in law relates to claimants over State Pension age and their entitlement to the enhanced mobility award.
“This change in law follows a tribunal ruling on 22 May 2020 which identified an unintentional gap in regulation 27 of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations.
“DWP did not have the legal powers to restrict the mobility award for claimants who were in receipt of the standard rate of the mobility award and over State Pension age, on the grounds of new medical evidence. New medical evidence is a report from a health professional requested by DWP which recommended the enhanced rate of the mobility award.
“DWP were only able to restrict the mobility award for claimants if a relevant change in circumstances was identified after they reached State Pension age.”
The change means that if you were affected, you may be able to apply for a ‘revision’ of your mobility award. If someone who used to claim has died, you may be able to contact DWP on behalf of their estate, too.
The government adds: “If you think you are affected, you can find out about the eligibility criteria and how to apply for a revision of your mobility award.
“If DWP used a health professional report when reviewing your claim, and you had not reported a change in your mobility needs, you may be entitled to an increase in your mobility award. This is because we should not have told you that it could not be increased because you had reached your State Pension age. You may have got more money.”
To apply, contact PIP and tell them you are enquiring about ‘Regulation 27 administrative exercise review’. You will need to give them your National Insurance Number too.
