New PIP online trial being offered to 60 people making a new claim each day
04.08.2023 - 04:07
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently shared details of the new ‘online apply service’ for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The service is currently only being offered to 60 new claimants each day who call the PIP phone line to start their application.
The information was given by DWP Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove MP, in a written response to Labour MP, Seema Malhotra. He also shared details of people most-likely to be invited to complete their application using the online service as the trial grows.
Mr Pursglove explained: “We are currently operating a small-scale test of the new online apply service for PIP as a limited service, initially offering it to a small number of claimants who call the phone line to begin their claim for PIP. Currently, we are offering the service to 60 claimants a day. Call agents offer the voluntary option to claim online to claimants within scope of the current service until the daily limit is met.”
The following groups will be incrementally included as the scope of the service grows:
Mr Pursglove said: “This approach allows us to build, develop and design the service, exploring and making improvements as we gradually increase its availability.”
The latest figures from the DWP show that at the end of January 2023, the number of people claiming PIP had risen to more than 3.25 million, including 319,336 living in Scotland. However, that figure does not include the 23,660 Scots now in receipt of Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
ADP replaced new claims for PIP in Scotland last August and all existing cases are set to transfer from DWP to the devolved Social Security Scotland IT system by the end of 2025. Of the 23,600 people now on ADP, 11,650 people were new