If your PIP is stopped or reduced (2024)

You might need to challenge the decision or start a new claim. It depends on the reason the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stopped or reduced your PIP.

If you’ve reached State Pension age

There are extra rules if you’re making a new claim for PIP after you’ve reached State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK.

Check if you can get PIP after State Pension age.

The DWP might have stopped or reduced your PIP because:

you didn’t return a review form in time
you’ve reached the end of your fixed-term PIP award
you had a medical assessment and the DWP decided your condition has improved
you missed a medical assessment
you told the DWP about a change of circ*mstances and they decided you can’t get PIP any more
the DWP is taking back a benefit overpayment
you’ve been accused of benefit fraud

If the DWP say your PIP has stopped because you’re subject to immigration control, get help from an adviser.

If you’re not sure why the DWP stopped or reduced your PIP, you can:

check any letters the DWP have sent you – they should explain what has happened
call the PIP enquiry line and ask them to explain

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line

Telephone: 0800 121 4433

Textphone: 0800 121 4493

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then0800 121 4433

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

Video relay- if you use British Sign Language (BSL).

You canfind out how to use video relay on YouTube.

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

If you didn’t return a review form on time

Contact the DWP as soon as possible, explain why you haven’t returned the form yet and ask for more time.

If you’ve reached the end of your fixed-term PIP award

What you should do depends on whether you were sent a review form before your PIP ended.

If you weren’t sent a review form

If you’re still sick or disabled and think you should still get PIP, you should make a new claim as soon as possible. Check how to make a new PIP claim.

If you returned your review form but didn’t get a reply

Contact the DWP as soon as possible. Check they got the form and ask when they’ll make a decision.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line

Telephone: 0800 121 4433

Textphone: 0800 121 4493

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then0800 121 4433

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

Video relay- if you use British Sign Language (BSL).

You canfind out how to use video relay on YouTube.

If you had a medical assessment and the DWP decide your condition has improved

If the DWP think your condition has improved, they might decide you can’t get PIP anymore - or that you can’t get as much PIP.

If you think the DWP is wrong, check how to challenge a PIP decision. Ask your GP or specialist for a letter that says your condition hasn’t got better, and send it to the DWP when you challenge the decision.

If you missed a medical assessment

You’ll need to go to a medical assessment to get PIP again.

Call the DWP as soon as possible. Explain why you missed the medical assessment and ask to book another one. If they let you book a medical assessment and they decide you can still get PIP, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line

Telephone: 0800 121 4433

Textphone: 0800 121 4493

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then0800 121 4433

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

Video relay- if you use British Sign Language (BSL).

You canfind out how to use video relay on YouTube.

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

If the DWP won’t let you book another medical appointment, you should start a new PIP claim as soon as possible. Check how to make a new PIP claim.

You can also challenge the decision to stop your PIP if there’s a good reason you didn’t go to the assessment. For example, if you were ill or had an emergency at home.

If your challenge is successful, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

You should start your challenge within 1 month of the decision. Check how to challenge a PIP decision.

If you’ve told the DWP about a change of circ*mstances

The DWP will stop your PIP if they think the change means you can’t get it anymore, for example if:

you went abroad for more than 13 weeks
you’ve been in a hospital, care home or prison for more than 4 weeks

You can check which changes of circ*mstances will stop you getting PIP. If you think the DWP made a mistake, check how to challenge the decision to stop your PIP.

If your circ*mstances change again and you think you can get PIP again, call the DWP and tell them. They might agree to start your PIP claim again or they might tell you to make a new claim - check how to make a PIP claim.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line

Telephone: 0800 121 4433

Textphone: 0800 121 4493

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then0800 121 4433

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

Video relay- if you use British Sign Language (BSL).

You canfind out how to use video relay on YouTube.

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

If the DWP is taking back a benefit overpayment

If the DWP says you’ve had an overpayment, it means you’ve been paid too much PIP - or another benefit. The DWP will reduce your PIP until they’ve taken back the overpayment. You can check the rules about benefit overpayments.

If you’re struggling to pay for basic things like food or rent, contact the DWP’s Debt Management contact centre. Tell them about your situation - they might agree to ignore the overpayment or take less off your PIP.

DWP debt management contact centre

Telephone: 0800 916 0647

Textphone: 0800 916 0651

Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 328 1344

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

Video relay- if you use British Sign Language (BSL).

You canfind out how to use video relay on YouTube.

Calling from abroad: +44 (0)161 904 1233

Monday to Friday, 8am to 7.30pm

Saturday, 9am to 4pm

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

If you’ve been accused of benefit fraud

The DWP will stop your PIP while they investigate. Check what to do if you’re invited to an interview for benefit fraud.

If your condition gets worse or you have a new condition, you should make a new claim - check how to make a new PIP claim. If not, you have to wait until the DWP finish investigating.

If the DWP decide you didn’t commit benefit fraud, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

If your PIP is stopped or reduced (2024)

FAQs

What to do if my PIP is stopped? ›

You might need to challenge the decision or start a new claim. It depends on the reason the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stopped or reduced your PIP.

Read On ›

What to do if PIP is not enough? ›

If you disagree with the decision that's been made about your PIP claim, you can challenge it. You can challenge the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decision about PIP if: you didn't get it. you got a lower rate than you expected.

Discover More Details ›

What answers to put on PIP form? ›

Answering the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Form Questions

Preparing food.
Eating and drinking.
Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition.
Washing and bathing.
Managing toilet needs or incontinence.
Dressing and undressing.
Communicating verbally.
Reading.

More items...

Does ESA stop if PIP stops? ›

If you think that means you would not longer be awarded PIP then say so. If you think you would be entitled to a lesser award then they will do a review. Stopping your PIP will not directly affect your ESA at this stage.

See Details ›

Can they just stop your PIP? ›

When the DWP reviews your claim, you will be sent a letter with a PIP review form. The letter will ask you to complete and return the PIP review form before the date on the letter. If you don't send the form back in time, the DWP will stop your claim unless you have a good reason for sending it in late.

Find Out More ›

What to do when PIP is ending? ›

If your PIP claim ends before December 2022, and you have not heard from the DWP, you should contact them and ask for your claim to be extended. You can ask to renew your claim in the last six months before your PIP award ends.

Tell Me More ›

Can you appeal a performance improvement plan? ›

Yes, if the decision to place you on the PIP in the first place wasn't a fair one and/or if there are issues with the way the PIP process was handled.

Show Me More ›

How do you respond to an unfair PIP? ›

If it is clear that the PIP is unwarranted, you may be able to escalate your claim to HR or upper management. Be aware, this may not be a fight worth the trouble. Appealing the decision to place you on a PIP creates more friction and very rarely ends up in the decision being reversed.

Explore More ›

Can you appeal PIP after mandatory reconsideration? ›

Once you have your mandatory reconsideration notice form, you must appeal straight to the tribunal service - you will typically have to appeal within one month from the date on your letter. This is called 'direct lodgement'. The DWP will not send your appeal to the tribunal.

Is PIP based on your worst days? ›

For PIP you should be assessed on how you are for the "Majority" of days, not just your "Good" days nor your "Bad" days. This is why it helps to keep a diary when you suffer fluctuating limitations.

Show Me More ›

How to successfully complete PIP form? ›

Include as much detail as possible. To qualify for PIP, you need to show that you need help with the activities on more than half the days in a year. Make it clear on the form how often you have problems with the activities. If your health changes, explain how often this happens and the effect it has on you.

Read The Full Story ›

How to pass a PIP review? ›

Explain how you cope on both good days and bad and how you manage over a longer period of time (like a week). This gives the DWP a better picture of how you cope most of the time. Make it clear: if you have good days and bad days.

See Details ›

What can I claim if my ESA has stopped? ›

If you get income-related or contribution-based ESA and your payments have stopped, you can ask for extra money called 'hardship payments'.

Get More Info Here ›

Why would ESA be reduced? ›

Your ESA can be reduced if you do not attend interviews or do work-related activity as agreed with your work coach in your 'Claimant Commitment'. This reduction can continue for up to 4 weeks after you restart work-related activities. You'll get a letter to say you may be sanctioned.

Do you automatically get ESA if you get PIP? ›

You can claim ESA and PIP at the same time, but qualifying for one does not automatically entitle you to the other. If you receive PIP, however, this could qualify you for severe or enhanced disability premiums on your ESA payments.

What to do if PIP is not working? ›

If Python is not installed on your system or not added to the system's PATH variable, the operating system will not be able to locate the pip executable. To fix this issue, you need to install Python and add it to the system's PATH variable.

View Details ›

What happens when PIP runs out? ›

If you wait until your PIP award ends, you have to wait for the processing of your claim, your payments will stop and this could affect extra premiums on other benefits. There is no guarantee you will receive PIP again. You can make a new claim sooner than 14 weeks – up to 6 months in advance of your claim ending.

What happens if PIP fails? ›

There can really be only two outcomes after a PIP: either the employee meets their goals or they fail to do so. If the employee is successful, then they will likely stay with the company and further their career. But if they fail to meet their goals, then they will most likely be terminated from the job.

Learn More ›

What can I do if I have been refused PIP? ›

Before you can appeal to a tribunal, you'll need to ask the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to look at the decision again. This is called mandatory reconsideration. If the DWP didn't change their decision when you asked them to look at it again, you can appeal to an independent panel, called a tribunal.

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