PIP reassessments extended to new areas
From 13 January 2014 DWP will extend the areas in which existing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants will start to be reassessed for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
DWP has started to reassess some existing DLA claimants in Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands and East Anglia for entitlement to PIP.
In January, DWP will extend the rollout to areas in Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, Galashiels and Motherwell with the postcodes beginning DG, EH, TD and ML. Then from 3 February 2014, the areas will be extended further to include parts of Carlisle, Darlington, Harrogate, Lancaster and York where postcodes start with CA, DL, HG, LA and YO
.
The invitation to claim PIP will apply where an existing fixed term DLA award is coming to an end, a young person reaches 16-years-old or where someone has reported a change in their care or mobility needs or we have received information that someone’s care or mobility needs have changed.
We will let people know when reassessments are due to be extended to other parts of the country.
Existing DLA claimants who have a lifetime or indefinite DLA award will not be affected until at least October 2015, unless we receive information about a change in their condition that would affect their rate of payment or if they reach the age of 16.
Existing DLA claimants in the areas affected by the changes do not have to do anything because DWP will write to invite them to claim PIP. They will be told what they need to do at that point.
More information about PIP and the reassessments can be found at GOV.UK.
A map highlighting the postcodes for reassessment areas can also be found in the PIP toolkit.
Please note that people who are awarded Standard Rate PIP can apply for a 50 percent reduction on their vehicle tax.