Thousands could be owed up to £12k from DWP in backdated PIP payments. Here’s what you need to know

Thousands of people could be owed backdated personal independence payments (PIP) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

In July 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that more people with disabilities and mental health conditions should have been eligible for higher benefits since April 2016.

As a result, the DWP launched an administrative exercise looking at entitlement to PIP. It revealed in October last year that it has so far identified around 326,000 cases to review.

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Staff at Benefits and Work have heard from people who have recently received backdated PIP payments ranging from £5,000 to £12,000.

Here’s what you need to know about the PIP backdated payments and whether you might be owed.

Who could be owed backdated PIP payments?

A landmark Supreme Court judgement on 18 July, 2019 ruled that many more people with mental health problems who find social situations debilitating could now be entitled to claim a disability benefit.

The ruling was made following a challenge by a PIP claimant, a 47-year-old man known as MM. It concerned the definition of “social support” when engaging with other people face to face.

The Supreme Court ordered the DWP to clearly define what counts as support and not dismiss the help that many people with mental health problems need in social situations.

As a result of this rule change, in September 2021, the DWP started an administrative exercise, looking at PIP claims since 6 April, 2016 to check whether claimants may be eligible for more support under PIP.

It means that many people who got zero points for the social support element of PIP will now be eligible for four points.

How many people will get backdated PIP payments?

The DWP has announced that by the end of August, it had reviewed around 79,000 cases against the MM judgment.

Around 14,000 arrears payments have already been made. 

It has also identified around 326,000 cases which still need to be reviewed. An update on this is expected later this year.

Tom Pursglove, who was the disabilities minister at the time, said in October 2023: “We are monitoring the numbers of, and reasons for, revised awards closely and making regular quality checks to ensure our decision-making is accurate and fair.

“Confident that reviews are achieving the right outcomes for claimants, we have completed upskilling additional staff available for this exercise and expect to complete the review of all cases available to the exercise by the end of 2025.”

How much could people get in backdated PIP payments?

A total of £74m has already been paid out to 14,000 people. That averages at more than £5,000 per person.

The Benefits and Work forum recently heard from people who received backdated PIP payments ranging from £5,000 to £12,000.

What to do if you think you might be owed backdated PIP payments

You will be notified by the DWP if you are owed backdated PIP payments after your case has been automatically reviewed.

You can call the PIP enquiry phone line on 0800 121 4433 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. For further help, contact Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444. 

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