PIP AWARD RATES

The percentage of DLA to PIP claimants who get any award at all of PIP has fallen from a high of 80% in March 2014 to 70% in April 2016. That's almost one in three people who are losing out entirely, with no explanation as to why decisions are becoming harsher.

Meanwhile, the award rate for fresh claims for PIP has plunged even more dramatically. In March 2014 62% of new claimants got an award of PIP, this had fallen to just 42% by April 2016. Again, there is no explanation of why so few awards are being made.

The mandatory reconsideration success rate for DLA to PIP transfers has also plummeted.

In April 2015, the success rate was 42% but by April 2016 only 19.5% of mandatory reconsiderations for DLA to PIP decisions were successful.

By contrast, mandatory reconsideration success rates for fresh PIP claims have stayed relatively stable, though dismally low, rising from 16.6% in April 2015 to 17.2% in April 2016.

With PIP appeal success rates currently standing at 63% and rising, as we reported in the last newsletter, the lesson is clear: mandatory reconsideration is largely just an obstacle to try to wear claimants down before they can appeal.

But for those who can manage to keep on fighting, the chances of success are high.

Source Benefits & Work