Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis in receipt of disability living allowance in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England appealed a decision at tribunal relating to a reassessment for personal independence payments and had that decision overturned (i) by her Department before the date of that tribunal and (ii) by that tribunal in each year since 2013.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mandatory reconsiderations (MR) and appeals for claimants with a primary disabling condition of Multiple Sclerosis in Scotland, Wales and England can be found in the tables below.
The Northern Irish Assembly has devolved responsibility for social security benefits. The responsibility for statistics in Northern Ireland lies with the Department for Communities: http://www.communities-ni.gov.uk
Since PIP was introduced 4.1m decisions have been made up to March 2019, of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned.
Reassessments from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP.
Table 1: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 70 | 10 | 10 | # | # | 0 | # | # |
2015/16 | 370 | 70 | 20 | 60 | 50 | # | 10 | 30 |
2016/17 | 1,360 | 210 | 60 | 150 | 100 | 10 | 20 | 60 |
2017/18 | 820 | 140 | 40 | 100 | 70 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
2018/19 | 690 | 120 | 20 | 80 | 60 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
Table 2: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 150 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 | # | 0 | 10 |
2015/16 | 250 | 60 | 10 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2016/17 | 930 | 200 | 60 | 150 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 70 |
2017/18 | 430 | 60 | 20 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2018/19 | 240 | 50 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | 0 | 0 |
Table 3: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 610 | 110 | 50 | 50 | 40 | # | # | 30 |
2015/16 | 2,720 | 640 | 160 | 470 | 300 | 30 | 40 | 220 |
2016/17 | 9,920 | 1,970 | 550 | 1,400 | 840 | 80 | 140 | 560 |
2017/18 | 7,160 | 1,380 | 330 | 1,040 | 620 | 100 | 70 | 350 |
2018/19 | 6,260 | 1,220 | 300 | 810 | 500 | 120 | 10 | 80 |
New Claims to PIP.
Table 4: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 130 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | # | # |
2014/15 | 560 | 110 | 20 | 90 | 40 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
2015/16 | 470 | 120 | 20 | 100 | 40 | # | 20 | 20 |
2016/17 | 540 | 130 | 20 | 110 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
2017/18 | 500 | 110 | 10 | 90 | 40 | # | 10 | 30 |
2018/19 | 440 | 100 | 10 | 80 | 30 | 10 | # | 10 |
Table 5: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 40 | 10 | # | 10 | # | 0 | # | # |
2014/15 | 250 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | 10 |
2015/16 | 140 | 30 | 10 | 20 | # | 0 | # | # |
2016/17 | 180 | 40 | # | 40 | 20 | # | 10 | 10 |
2017/18 | 160 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 20 | 0 | # | 10 |
2018/19 | 190 | 50 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | # |
Table 6: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 530 | 90 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
2014/15 | 3,940 | 650 | 170 | 470 | 180 | 30 | 40 | 100 |
2015/16 | 3,240 | 730 | 130 | 600 | 240 | 20 | 60 | 150 |
2016/17 | 3,040 | 670 | 90 | 580 | 230 | 30 | 70 | 120 |
2017/18 | 3,130 | 740 | 110 | 630 | 280 | 40 | 40 | 160 |
2018/19 | 2,780 | 640 | 100 | 450 | 190 | 20 | # | 20 |
Source: PIP Computer System
All data rounded to the nearest 10. # refers to where there are less than 5 cases.
Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
In the application process, claimants’ primary disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment.
Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.
The geography relates to the origin of the claim (i.e. derived from claimant’s postcode).
PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants.
Some decisions which are changed at MR, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal. Therefore the number of people who had a decision changed at MR and the number of people who had a decision changed at tribunal appeal cannot be added together.
Lapsed appeals are where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at Tribunal.
Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to an MR and appeal.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England who made a new application for personal independence payments appealed the decision made by her Department at tribunal and had that decision overturned by (i) her Department before the date of the tribunal and (ii) the tribunal in each year since 2013.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mandatory reconsiderations (MR) and appeals for claimants with a primary disabling condition of Multiple Sclerosis in Scotland, Wales and England can be found in the tables below.
The Northern Irish Assembly has devolved responsibility for social security benefits. The responsibility for statistics in Northern Ireland lies with the Department for Communities: http://www.communities-ni.gov.uk
Since PIP was introduced 4.1m decisions have been made up to March 2019, of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned.
Reassessments from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP.
Table 1: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 70 | 10 | 10 | # | # | 0 | # | # |
2015/16 | 370 | 70 | 20 | 60 | 50 | # | 10 | 30 |
2016/17 | 1,360 | 210 | 60 | 150 | 100 | 10 | 20 | 60 |
2017/18 | 820 | 140 | 40 | 100 | 70 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
2018/19 | 690 | 120 | 20 | 80 | 60 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
Table 2: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 150 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 | # | 0 | 10 |
2015/16 | 250 | 60 | 10 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2016/17 | 930 | 200 | 60 | 150 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 70 |
2017/18 | 430 | 60 | 20 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2018/19 | 240 | 50 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | 0 | 0 |
Table 3: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 610 | 110 | 50 | 50 | 40 | # | # | 30 |
2015/16 | 2,720 | 640 | 160 | 470 | 300 | 30 | 40 | 220 |
2016/17 | 9,920 | 1,970 | 550 | 1,400 | 840 | 80 | 140 | 560 |
2017/18 | 7,160 | 1,380 | 330 | 1,040 | 620 | 100 | 70 | 350 |
2018/19 | 6,260 | 1,220 | 300 | 810 | 500 | 120 | 10 | 80 |
New Claims to PIP.
Table 4: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 130 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | # | # |
2014/15 | 560 | 110 | 20 | 90 | 40 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
2015/16 | 470 | 120 | 20 | 100 | 40 | # | 20 | 20 |
2016/17 | 540 | 130 | 20 | 110 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
2017/18 | 500 | 110 | 10 | 90 | 40 | # | 10 | 30 |
2018/19 | 440 | 100 | 10 | 80 | 30 | 10 | # | 10 |
Table 5: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 40 | 10 | # | 10 | # | 0 | # | # |
2014/15 | 250 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | 10 |
2015/16 | 140 | 30 | 10 | 20 | # | 0 | # | # |
2016/17 | 180 | 40 | # | 40 | 20 | # | 10 | 10 |
2017/18 | 160 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 20 | 0 | # | 10 |
2018/19 | 190 | 50 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | # |
Table 6: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 530 | 90 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
2014/15 | 3,940 | 650 | 170 | 470 | 180 | 30 | 40 | 100 |
2015/16 | 3,240 | 730 | 130 | 600 | 240 | 20 | 60 | 150 |
2016/17 | 3,040 | 670 | 90 | 580 | 230 | 30 | 70 | 120 |
2017/18 | 3,130 | 740 | 110 | 630 | 280 | 40 | 40 | 160 |
2018/19 | 2,780 | 640 | 100 | 450 | 190 | 20 | # | 20 |
Source: PIP Computer System
All data rounded to the nearest 10. # refers to where there are less than 5 cases.
Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
In the application process, claimants’ primary disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment.
Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.
The geography relates to the origin of the claim (i.e. derived from claimant’s postcode).
PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants.
Some decisions which are changed at MR, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal. Therefore the number of people who had a decision changed at MR and the number of people who had a decision changed at tribunal appeal cannot be added together.
Lapsed appeals are where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at Tribunal.
Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to an MR and appeal.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment applications by people with multiple sclerosis have been returned by decision makers to assessment providers having been deemed to be of insufficient quality in each year since 2013.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis have requested a copy of their personal independence payment assessment report following a face-to-face assessment in each year since 2013.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To gather this information, each claim would have to be looked at individually, therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data her Department holds on the number of applications for personal independence payments that were (a) refused and (b) reduced based on informal observations made of the applicant upon face to face assessment.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Informal observations form part of the suite of evidence used by Health Professionals at the face to face assessment to help Case Managers determine entitlement to benefit, along with medical evidence, history of conditions, social and occupational history, functional history including the ‘typical day’ and the functional examination.
More information can be found at paragraph 1.6 in the Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide at the following link:
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England (i) made new applications for personal independence payments and (ii) were reassessed from disability living allowance to personal independence payments in each year since 2013.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department does not hold the data requested on the disability of a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimant at the point of registration (application) for a claim. Data on a PIP claimant’s condition is not recorded until the claimant attends an assessment.
The latest available data on PIP clearances can be broken down by main disabling condition for both new claims and DLA reassessment claims for those that attended an assessment (awarded and disallowed post referral to the AP due to failing assessment), for each month from the introduction of PIP in April 2013 to the last available data in April 2019. Data can also be split by geographical area within Great Britain (region).
Stat-Xplore can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html
Please note that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is only responsible for benefits in Great Britain. Social security benefits, including PIP, are a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and your questions regarding PIP in Northern Ireland should be directed at the Department of Communities in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England that were in receipt of disability living allowance and underwent a reassessment for personal independence payments applied for mandatory reconsideration of the decision in each year since 2013; and how many of those people (i) had their decision overturned and (ii) had their decision upheld.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mandatory reconsiderations (MR) and appeals for claimants with a primary disabling condition of Multiple Sclerosis in Scotland, Wales and England can be found in the tables below.
The Northern Irish Assembly has devolved responsibility for social security benefits. The responsibility for statistics in Northern Ireland lies with the Department for Communities: http://www.communities-ni.gov.uk
Since PIP was introduced 4.1m decisions have been made up to March 2019, of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned.
Reassessments from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP.
Table 1: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 70 | 10 | 10 | # | # | 0 | # | # |
2015/16 | 370 | 70 | 20 | 60 | 50 | # | 10 | 30 |
2016/17 | 1,360 | 210 | 60 | 150 | 100 | 10 | 20 | 60 |
2017/18 | 820 | 140 | 40 | 100 | 70 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
2018/19 | 690 | 120 | 20 | 80 | 60 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
Table 2: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 150 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 | # | 0 | 10 |
2015/16 | 250 | 60 | 10 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2016/17 | 930 | 200 | 60 | 150 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 70 |
2017/18 | 430 | 60 | 20 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2018/19 | 240 | 50 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | 0 | 0 |
Table 3: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 610 | 110 | 50 | 50 | 40 | # | # | 30 |
2015/16 | 2,720 | 640 | 160 | 470 | 300 | 30 | 40 | 220 |
2016/17 | 9,920 | 1,970 | 550 | 1,400 | 840 | 80 | 140 | 560 |
2017/18 | 7,160 | 1,380 | 330 | 1,040 | 620 | 100 | 70 | 350 |
2018/19 | 6,260 | 1,220 | 300 | 810 | 500 | 120 | 10 | 80 |
New Claims to PIP.
Table 4: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 130 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | # | # |
2014/15 | 560 | 110 | 20 | 90 | 40 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
2015/16 | 470 | 120 | 20 | 100 | 40 | # | 20 | 20 |
2016/17 | 540 | 130 | 20 | 110 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
2017/18 | 500 | 110 | 10 | 90 | 40 | # | 10 | 30 |
2018/19 | 440 | 100 | 10 | 80 | 30 | 10 | # | 10 |
Table 5: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 40 | 10 | # | 10 | # | 0 | # | # |
2014/15 | 250 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | 10 |
2015/16 | 140 | 30 | 10 | 20 | # | 0 | # | # |
2016/17 | 180 | 40 | # | 40 | 20 | # | 10 | 10 |
2017/18 | 160 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 20 | 0 | # | 10 |
2018/19 | 190 | 50 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | # |
Table 6: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 530 | 90 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
2014/15 | 3,940 | 650 | 170 | 470 | 180 | 30 | 40 | 100 |
2015/16 | 3,240 | 730 | 130 | 600 | 240 | 20 | 60 | 150 |
2016/17 | 3,040 | 670 | 90 | 580 | 230 | 30 | 70 | 120 |
2017/18 | 3,130 | 740 | 110 | 630 | 280 | 40 | 40 | 160 |
2018/19 | 2,780 | 640 | 100 | 450 | 190 | 20 | # | 20 |
Source: PIP Computer System
All data rounded to the nearest 10. # refers to where there are less than 5 cases.
Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
In the application process, claimants’ primary disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment.
Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.
The geography relates to the origin of the claim (i.e. derived from claimant’s postcode).
PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants.
Some decisions which are changed at MR, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal. Therefore the number of people who had a decision changed at MR and the number of people who had a decision changed at tribunal appeal cannot be added together.
Lapsed appeals are where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at Tribunal.
Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to an MR and appeal.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England that made a new application for personal independence payment applied for mandatory reconsideration of the decision in each year since 2013, and how many of those people had had their decision (i) overturned and (ii) upheld.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mandatory reconsiderations (MR) and appeals for claimants with a primary disabling condition of Multiple Sclerosis in Scotland, Wales and England can be found in the tables below.
The Northern Irish Assembly has devolved responsibility for social security benefits. The responsibility for statistics in Northern Ireland lies with the Department for Communities: http://www.communities-ni.gov.uk
Since PIP was introduced 4.1m decisions have been made up to March 2019, of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned.
Reassessments from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP.
Table 1: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 70 | 10 | 10 | # | # | 0 | # | # |
2015/16 | 370 | 70 | 20 | 60 | 50 | # | 10 | 30 |
2016/17 | 1,360 | 210 | 60 | 150 | 100 | 10 | 20 | 60 |
2017/18 | 820 | 140 | 40 | 100 | 70 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
2018/19 | 690 | 120 | 20 | 80 | 60 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
Table 2: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 150 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 | # | 0 | 10 |
2015/16 | 250 | 60 | 10 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2016/17 | 930 | 200 | 60 | 150 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 70 |
2017/18 | 430 | 60 | 20 | 50 | 30 | # | # | 20 |
2018/19 | 240 | 50 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | 0 | 0 |
Table 3: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for reassessment claims to PIP with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | # | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014/15 | 610 | 110 | 50 | 50 | 40 | # | # | 30 |
2015/16 | 2,720 | 640 | 160 | 470 | 300 | 30 | 40 | 220 |
2016/17 | 9,920 | 1,970 | 550 | 1,400 | 840 | 80 | 140 | 560 |
2017/18 | 7,160 | 1,380 | 330 | 1,040 | 620 | 100 | 70 | 350 |
2018/19 | 6,260 | 1,220 | 300 | 810 | 500 | 120 | 10 | 80 |
New Claims to PIP.
Table 4: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Scotland.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 130 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 10 | # | # | # |
2014/15 | 560 | 110 | 20 | 90 | 40 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
2015/16 | 470 | 120 | 20 | 100 | 40 | # | 20 | 20 |
2016/17 | 540 | 130 | 20 | 110 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
2017/18 | 500 | 110 | 10 | 90 | 40 | # | 10 | 30 |
2018/19 | 440 | 100 | 10 | 80 | 30 | 10 | # | 10 |
Table 5: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, Wales.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 40 | 10 | # | 10 | # | 0 | # | # |
2014/15 | 250 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | 10 |
2015/16 | 140 | 30 | 10 | 20 | # | 0 | # | # |
2016/17 | 180 | 40 | # | 40 | 20 | # | 10 | 10 |
2017/18 | 160 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 20 | 0 | # | 10 |
2018/19 | 190 | 50 | 10 | 30 | 10 | # | # | # |
Table 6: The number of Initial Decisions, MRs and appeals for PIP new claims with a main disabling condition of multiple sclerosis, England.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of Initial Decisions | MRs registered | MRs completed where the initial award was changed | MRs completed where the initial award was not changed | Appeals Lodged | Appeals where the decision was lapsed | Appeals where the decision was maintained | Appeals where the decision was overturned in favour of the claimant |
2013/14 | 530 | 90 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
2014/15 | 3,940 | 650 | 170 | 470 | 180 | 30 | 40 | 100 |
2015/16 | 3,240 | 730 | 130 | 600 | 240 | 20 | 60 | 150 |
2016/17 | 3,040 | 670 | 90 | 580 | 230 | 30 | 70 | 120 |
2017/18 | 3,130 | 740 | 110 | 630 | 280 | 40 | 40 | 160 |
2018/19 | 2,780 | 640 | 100 | 450 | 190 | 20 | # | 20 |
Source: PIP Computer System
All data rounded to the nearest 10. # refers to where there are less than 5 cases.
Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
In the application process, claimants’ primary disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment.
Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.
The geography relates to the origin of the claim (i.e. derived from claimant’s postcode).
PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants.
Some decisions which are changed at MR, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal. Therefore the number of people who had a decision changed at MR and the number of people who had a decision changed at tribunal appeal cannot be added together.
Lapsed appeals are where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at Tribunal.
Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to an MR and appeal.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis in receipt of disability living allowance who (a) underwent a reassessment and (b) made a new application for personal independence payments had their (i) application rejected and (ii) award reduced as a result of an informal observation made by the assessor in each year since 2013.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Informal observations form part of the suite of evidence used by Health Professionals at the face to face assessment to help Case Managers determine entitlement to benefit, along with medical evidence, history of conditions, social and occupational history, functional history including the ‘typical day’ and the functional examination.
More information can be found at paragraph 1.6 in the Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide at the following link:
Asked by: Martin Whitfield (Labour - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2019 to Question 237196 on Universal Credit: Appeals, what assessment she has made of her Departments capacity to procure a record of data in relation to Universal Credit (work capability) decisions that are subject to an order of a tribunal asking her department to respond within 21 days.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Whatever the issue being disputed, when a Universal Credit appeal is made the Tribunals Service will send the appeal to DWP and ask that it provides an appeal response within 28 days – there is no 21 day rule. The time taken for the response to be provided has been recorded for UC Full Service appeals since 1 April 2019.