The latest PIP statistics released by the DWP show that mandatory reconsiderations success rates have continued to plummet, with barely a quarter now getting a changed award. PIP new claim success rates have fallen by just 1%, but the vast majority get an award of only two years or less. The figures also show that one in three claimants who have a planned review end up worse off.
The latest statistics cover the period February to April 2022. They show that the DWP is having to cope with very considerably increased demand. New claim registrations are up 18% on the same period last year whilst changes of circumstances are also up 8%.
As a result of concentrating on clearing new claims, the department is falling further behind in other areas. Planned award review clearances are 32% lower than they were last year and DLA reassessment clearances are 8% lower.
Mandatory reconsiderations
The number of mandatory reconsiderations registered has also risen, up by 9% compared to the same period last year.
But the success rate has fallen for almost every single month since October of last year, as the figures below show.
October 45%
November 43%
December 40%
January 31%
February 31%
March 27%
April 26%
The DWP have offered no explanation for this relentless fall in the number of awards that are changed.
There may be one clue in the DWP’s write-up of the statistics, however. They explain that:
“a new operational approach was introduced in 2019 when the Department began proactively contacting claimants, as appropriate, to collect further oral or written evidence at the MR stage. This saw a gradual increase in the proportion of awards changed since January 2019 (23%) to 40% in December 2019”.
We know from the figures above that the DWP is struggling with an increased workload. It is conceivable that they now have fewer staff dealing with mandatory reconsiderations and that, as a result, they no longer take the time to proactively contact claimants to collect additional evidence that might change their decision.
As a result, the success figures are back almost where they were before they began contacting claimants as part of the reconsideration process.
Whatever the reason, it means a lot more claimants either giving up on their challenge or waiting months before going through the ordeal of an appeal tribunal.
PIP awards
PIP awards for the quarter are slightly lower than the last quarter, down to 40% from 41% of new claims, excluding special rules.
This means that 6 out of 10 new claims do not result in any award at all.
Award periods are also very short for most new claimants
77% of all new claims were given a short-term award of up to 2 years.
11% were over 2 years.
10% were ongoing awards.
This will result in the DWP dealing with more reviews and renewal claims in the coming years, meaning an end to delays processing such claims is unlikely to happen soon.
Planned award reviews
We’ve already heard from readers about the chaos and misery caused by delays to planned PIP reviews.
But it’s important to realise that even when a review finally happens, the outcome may not be a good one. 33% of all reviews result in the claimant being worse off, with 22% losing their award altogether. Just 19% of planned PIP review claimants end up with an increased award.
Increased 19%
Maintained 48%
Decreased 11%
Disallowed 22%
The lesson, as always with the DWP, is to take nothing for granted. Even if your condition hasn’t changed since your last award, ensure that you provide detailed evidence about how your condition affects you now.
