The Department for Work and Pensions has revealed that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants are most likely to receive £749 payments, despite impending cuts to Universal Credit and disability and incapacity benefits. According to the latest DWP figures on 'light touch' reviews, which grant indefinite awards, over 58% of people claiming PIP for a visual disease have been receiving a monthly award of up to £737.20 (set to rise to £749 this month) for five years or more.
More than half of all claimants with general musculoskeletal conditions (50.8%) have been granted a longer award, along with 49.5% of people with a neurological condition. This suggests that claimants with conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, muscle or joint pain, as well as visual diseases, could benefit.
This revelation comes as it was found that, out of the 31,650 Personal Independent Payments (PIP) applications initially disputed, only 90 had their appeal upheld in England and Wales last year. Disability advocate and co-founder of Cool Crutches and Walking Sticks, Amelia Peckham, is hopeful that these changes will enhance PIP applications.
Analysis of PIP data from GOV.UK shows that between January and September last year, 31,650 PIP applicants contested their PIP rejection, reports Birmingham Live.
Of these, 6,070 saw a change in their award, while 23,250 remained unchanged, and 90 withdrew their initial mandatory reconsideration. A further 10,090 escalated to an appeal, with only 90 upheld, 3,930 overturned or modified in favour of the claimant, and 50 withdrawn or dismissed, reports the Daily Star.
Previous reports have highlighted that the DWP's spending on fighting review and appeal claims could have fully funded PIP for over 5,200 people for an entire year, equating to a staggering £60 million of taxpayers' money. In response to this, from November this year, PIP applicants will need to score at least four points in one category to qualify for the daily living component. At present, PIP is distributed based on two components – daily living and mobility – at either a higher or lower rate depending on the severity of the condition.
