Are you waiting on a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision? Long delays in processing could mean some good news for you! A report by the Public Accounts Committee has slammed these delays as “unacceptable”, with some claimants waiting over a year. But here’s the silver lining: if your claim comes through, you might be in line for a hefty backdated payment!
When approved, PIP is backdated to the day you first contacted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), not the date of approval. This could mean a substantial sum if you’ve been waiting a while. Turn2Us, a charity aiding those in financial hardship, highlights the importance of ensuring your payment is correctly backdated. If it’s not, give DWP a nudge!
And here’s more good news: these backdated payments won’t affect other benefits since they’re not counted as income or savings, at least for the first year. For those with back payments over £5,000, this doesn’t change after that period. Plus, starting in April, PIP rates are set to rise, giving even more support when it finally kicks in.
The Public Accounts Committee reports that only 51% of claims were processed within 75 working days recently, falling short of the DWP’s goal. The committee is urging immediate improvements. A DWP spokesperson assured the public of ongoing reviews to make PIP more efficient and fair.
Have patience, and keep an eye on your mailbox—your backdated blessing could be on its way!