PIP - 4 points on a descriptor?

iklepig

Hello,

There was talk some time ago about needing to get at least 4 points on a daily activity descriptor to be eligible for PIP.

Did that idea get binned? Do you now need to get at least 4 points on one of the non-mobility descriptors? Is that rule coming into force soon in the future?

Renewal PIP forms dropped through my letterbox yesterday. Award is due to end March 2027. It’s be useful to know if I need to hit 4 points in one descriptor to keep PIP.

Chrysalis

The idea as it was sold was binned, but it doesnt mean we wont see it in the future.
The plan was for the 4 point rule as a short term measure as they wanted to make eligibility cuts in the short term. Whilst also developing long term eligibility changes.
The short term 4 point change got dropped, but the long term changes are still being decided on, they are to be reported to the commons later this year.

iklepig

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056000#Comment_82056000

thanks Chrysalis. I suspected so but wanted to be sure. I hate these forms with an absolute passion. I was hoping I’d just get an extension due to backlogs like so many people have been getting. Instead I got picked on to actually do a review (just my luck).

Is there any rhyme or reason or any patterns as to who gets extensions and who still has to do a review despite the backlogs?

Chrysalis

So the review system is something like this.

Initially during covid, there was a bit of panic, so some people were given an extension (there was a pattern identified it was largely people who got their award without tribunal).
Then the law got changed so this was no longer needed, what happens now is if you are under review approaching end of award, and no new decision has been made, the DWP will contact you to inform you that your payments will continue past your award end date.
Every review should require the form (at least the ones that are not light touch), but you might still have a paper based assessment which would avoid a over the phone or face to face assessment, whether this happens is based on the evidence they already have access to.

I expect the majority of people who were given an extension during covid have probably had a review by now.

Muttleythefrog

Yeah the 4 pointer required for award was binned. However without stray into political debate… I would say pressures and reviews ahead remain to reduce costs and look at criteria. The 4 pointer was particularly to catch lower level mental health claimants I suspect where many will require low level input from say carer across a notable numbers of tasks and the concern was for the rising number of claimants with mental health problems. I suspect government will look at different angles to cut costs and may even use a similar strategy already employed (for Universal Credit Health element) of effectively creating two tier system of claimants before and after a date with far less favourable terms for those after.