Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes when an AR1 form is returned late by the claimant.

If the AR1 is not returned within the time limit, and the customer has an Additional Support (AS) marker, their claim will be automatically referred to a healthcare professional for an assessment. The claim will not be disallowed for non-return of AR1.

If an AR1 is not returned within the time limit, and AS needs have not been identified, the case will be automatically disallowed, and the PIP system will generate a disallowance notification. The date of disallowance will be the day the decision is made.

It should be noted that claimants who may need more time to complete their form can contact the DWP and a 2-week extension will be granted.

When an AR1 is received late, a notification is produced which prompts a Case Manager (CM) to review the case.

For cases with an AS marker:

- If the case has already been sent to the assessment provider, the AR1 will be forwarded to them so they can include the information provided as part of their recommendation; and

- If the assessment provider has already completed a review, and made a recommendation made on the facts available without an AR1, and the case is now with a CM, the CM will consider the information provided on the AR1 before making their decision.

For cases without an AS marker:

- A CM will review the case, consider good cause for the late receipt of AR1 and contact the claimant if necessary;

- The CM will check to see whether the claimant is vulnerable and/or additional support is required; and

- If the CM accepts good cause they will reinstate the PIP award and the claim will continue on the journey. If not, they will uphold the disallowance action.