'Needless PIP reviews' for disabled reaching State Pension age end this Friday

From this Friday, people reaching State Pension age will no longer have their Personal Independence Payments (PIP) regularly reviewed, instead getting a light touch review at 10 years.

This will also be applied in the coming months to existing pensioners who are claiming PIP.

Back in March, Work and Pensions Secretary of State Amber Rudd announced that the regular reviews for people of State Pension age will be scrapped. Nearly 290,000 pensioners currently receive PIP.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) called the move a “positive change” and said: “It applies a common-sense approach to treating those whose conditions are unlikely to change, and we want to introduce it as quickly as possible for those who will benefit from it.”

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson added: “We are determined to improve our support for disabled people, and stopping needless PIP reviews for pensioners is the right thing to do.

“This step means new claimants to PIP who reach State Pension age before their review is due won’t have one unless they tell us their needs have changed, and the next step is to bring this in for all pensioners.”

In 2021, the assessment process for PIP, Employment Support Allowance and Universal Credit will be integrated into one service. The DHSC claims this will simplify the assessment process.

The government has also pledged to work with organisations to understand how to help people submit the right evidence with their claim at the outset so that fewer people have to take their case to Tribunal.