Around 2,400 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants are still owed money by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but officials have been unable to locate them following one of the largest benefit review exercises in recent years.
The update, confirmed in Parliament by Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms, comes after the DWP completed a lengthy review of hundreds of thousands of PIP claims linked to a landmark Supreme Court ruling known as the MM judgment. The review has already resulted in tens of thousands of people receiving back payments worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
For those who may have been affected but have never been contacted, the Government says it is still possible to request a review.
DWP Paid Out £270 Million Following Major PIP Review
The review stemmed from a July 2019 Supreme Court judgment that changed how the DWP should assess “social support” when deciding whether someone qualifies for the Daily Living component of PIP.
According to a written statement to Parliament, the DWP reviewed around 350,000 cases and made approximately 48,000 arrears payments totaling £270 million.
| Review Outcome | Figure |
|---|---|
| Cases reviewed | 350,000 |
| Claimants receiving back payments | 48,000 |
| Total paid out | £270 million |
| Average payment | Around £5,625 |
The ruling affected Activity 9 of the Daily Living assessment, which looks at a person’s ability to engage with others face to face. Following the judgment, updated guidance was introduced for new claims from September 2020.
Further details about PIP assessments can be found on the official Government website at https://www.gov.uk/pip.
Why 2,400 Claimants Still Haven’t Received Their Money
Despite completing the review, the DWP says around 2,400 additional claimants are entitled to back payments but remain untraced.
In its published report, the Department stated that it has been unable to identify a suitable payee, locate a representative, or establish contact with these individuals.
The report explained:
“Around 2,400 further claimants have been identified as benefitting from the exercise and are due a back payment following a review of their claim. However, the department has not been able to identify a payee to receive the payment and is unable to identify a representative or make contact.”
This means some people could be owed substantial sums without knowing it.
Who Could Be Eligible for a Back Payment?
The MM judgment specifically affects the Daily Living element of PIP and focuses on support needed during face-to-face interactions.
The DWP reviewed claims where additional points for Activity 9 (“prompting” or “social support”) could have increased a claimant’s award.
People potentially affected include those who:
- Require regular support from a mental health professional to manage social interactions.
- Need assistance from specific friends or relatives with experience supporting their condition.
- Cannot effectively manage face-to-face encounters without tailored social support.
In some cases, claimants who previously received no Daily Living award may have qualified for the standard rate. Others who received the standard rate may have been entitled to the enhanced rate.
Guidance on Daily Living assessments is available through https://www.gov.uk/pip/how-pip-is-assessed.
Claims That Won’t Be Reviewed Automatically
Not every PIP claim falls within the scope of the MM review.
The DWP says claims generally will not be reviewed if:
| Situation | Review Status |
|---|---|
| Enhanced Daily Living rate awarded continuously since April 6, 2016 | Not reviewed |
| Tribunal has made a decision on the claim since April 6, 2016 | Not reviewed |
| PIP claim was refused before April 6, 2016 | Not reviewed |
These exclusions were built into the review process because the court ruling would not have changed entitlement in those circumstances.
Separate Review Also Completed
Sir Stephen Timms also updated Parliament on another exercise linked to the LB Upper Tribunal decision.
That case focused on how time spent managing therapy, medication, and monitoring health conditions should be considered during PIP assessments.
The DWP reviewed around 44,000 cases under the LB exercise.
| LB Review Outcome | Figure |
|---|---|
| Cases reviewed | 44,000 |
| Arrears payments made | Fewer than 100 |
| Total paid out | £188,000 |
The Department also invited approximately 275,000 claimants to contact officials if they believed another aspect of the MM judgment affected their award.
Of those:
- Around 4,800 requested reviews.
- Approximately 220 received additional payments.
- Total payments amounted to roughly £1.3 million.
Information about PIP reviews and disputes can be found at https://www.gov.uk/mandatory-reconsideration.
No One Should Have Lost Money
The Minister emphasized that neither review was designed to reduce anyone’s benefits.
According to Sir Stephen Timms:
“All reviews have been carried out by a case manager within the Department and no one should have seen their PIP reduced because of these exercises.”
That assurance means claimants who requested a review faced no risk of having their existing PIP award cut solely because their case was reassessed under these exercises.
What To Do If You Think You Were Affected
Although the formal review programmes have now ended, claimants still have the right to ask the DWP to look again at their case.
Anyone who believes a previous PIP decision may have been affected by either the MM Supreme Court judgment or the LB tribunal ruling can contact the Department directly.
The PIP enquiry line can be reached on:
0800 121 4433
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Additional information about PIP eligibility and reviews is available through https://www.gov.uk/pip and official DWP guidance.
For some former claimants, a simple phone call could uncover entitlement to a back payment worth several thousand pounds. With 2,400 people still untraced, the DWP is effectively urging anyone who believes they may have been affected to come forward and ask for their case to be checked.
FAQs
1. Why is the DWP paying PIP back payments?
The payments stem from the MM Supreme Court judgment, which changed how social support should be considered when assessing certain PIP claims.
2. How much have claimants received on average?
The average payment from the main review exercise was approximately £5,625, although individual amounts vary.
3. Who are the 2,400 untraced claimants?
They are people identified as being entitled to a back payment, but the DWP has been unable to contact them or identify someone who can receive the payment on their behalf.
4. Can I still ask for my PIP claim to be reviewed?
Yes. Even though the formal review exercises have ended, claimants can still request that the DWP review their case if they believe they were affected.
5. How do I contact the DWP about a possible back payment?
You can call the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
