Members of an online benefits forum have received between £5,000 and £11,000 in backdated PIP payments. Members of a popular online benefits advice forum are reporting that they have received backdated Personal Independence Payments (PIP) of between £5,000 and nearly £11,000 following a recent rule change by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Some 326,000 PIP cases are due to be reviewed after a change to the definition of ‘social support’, which relates to one of the Daily Living questions on the 'PIP 2 evidence form'.
The independent Benefits and Work website reports that several members of its online community have been contacted by the DWP - by phone and through the post - informing them they are due an arrears payment. And one member who previously shared how they had received £5,000 in early March after having their case reviewed and award increased to the enhanced rate, updated their post to add that they have received a further £5,500 from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The member previously explained to Benefits and Work how they received a call from a DWP decision maker who “ran through a few questions” with them, asking what plans they made when they were going out and who they used as their support when they did.
They added: “She told me there and then that she was going to back date my claim to 2016 and increase it from standard to enhanced. I have just had just under £5,000 paid into my account today.” The member then posted an update.
