Seven reasons DWP can stop your PIP claim - and vital next steps to take

Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are the primary disability benefit from the Department for Work and (), offering up to £750 per month for disabled claimants. This is no small amount, so a reduction or complete loss of this benefit can have a devastating impact on individuals.

The DWP has various methods and reasons to halt or decrease your payments, but it rarely happens without prior notice. You'll likely receive a letter before the benefit is stopped, informing you of when it will end and why.

Your award letter will also indicate when your original claim is due to expire and whether it will be reviewed at that time. If your case needs to be reviewed before it can be extended, you'll receive a different letter with an Award review form that you must complete and return.

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Failure to do this promptly is one of the reasons the DWP can use to stop or reduce your benefit, according to . This list also includes:.

• Reaching the end of your fixed-term award.
• After a medical assessment, the DWP decided your condition has improved.
• You missed a medical assessment.
• A change of circumstances that you reported to the DWP has made you ineligible.
• You owe the DWP and it is taking part of the benefit as a repayment.
• You've been accused of benefit fraud.
• You're subject to immigration control.

If you're uncertain as to why your benefit has been halted or reduced, the PIP enquiry line is available for contact. This service is free from both mobiles and landlines.

If you failed to return a review form in time, this helpline can be used to explain your situation and request an extension. If you can't get an extension, it's crucial to begin completing a new PIP claim immediately, with the aim of reinstating your benefit before significant sums are missed. A similar procedure applies if you missed a medical assessment.

Contact the enquiry line to clarify why you missed the appointment and request a rescheduling. If you succeed in securing another appointment and it's determined that you remain eligible for PIP, any payments missed during the period of cessation will be backdated.

You also have the option to contest any decision to halt or reduce your payments, a process known as mandatory reconsideration. However, this must be initiated within one month of the decision. Advisors at Citizens Advice and other charities can assist you through this process.

In cases where you've been accused of benefit fraud, your payments will be suspended while the DWP conducts an investigation. If your condition deteriorates during this period, you may be able to submit a new claim.

Otherwise, you'll need to wait until the investigation concludes. If the investigation determines that you did not commit benefit fraud, your payments will be backdated to include the money you would have received had your benefits not been stopped.