Simplified forms to be used in carrying out light touch reviews of PIP to be introduced from August 2023

DWP says forms will be used where claimants have an ongoing award or have reached state pension age and in most cases an assessment with a health professional will not be required

Simplified forms to be used in carrying out light touch reviews of personal independence payment (PIP) are to be introduced from August 2023, the DWP has said.

When PIP was introduced in April 2013, section 88 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 made provision for indefinite awards to be made where a fixed term award was 'inappropriate' and the DWP indicated that these would undergo a 'light touch review' at ten years. In October 2022, the then DWP Minister Claire Coutinho confirmed that, with the first claims of ten-year duration coming due for review, the Department was in the process of developing the design of the light touch review process.

NB – in July 2019, the DWP had also committed to using the light touch review process for PIP claimants over state pension age.

Providing an update in an email to stakeholders last week, the DWP advises that –

'… we have developed a simplified form focusing on how a claimant’s ability to do certain everyday tasks and move around may have changed. These forms will be introduced in August this year.

In most cases we do not expect an assessment with a health professional will be required, unless there has been a change of circumstances which affects those abilities.

There will be necessary contact with the claimant only to check whether anything has changed, adjust the award if needed, and confirm we hold up to date information.'

The DWP added that the new process will be monitored and that it welcomes feedback on how it is working.