Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the backlog in Personal Independence Payment reviews.

We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner. We prioritise new claims, while ensuring

claimants awaiting award reviews remain in payment until we can make a decision.

We always aim to make an award review decision as quickly as possible, considering the need to review all available evidence, including that from the claimant.

In addition, and in order to improve the service across all PIP activities, we are also:

• using a blend of phone, video and face-to-face assessments to support customers and deliver a more efficient and user-centred service;
• increasing case manager and assessment provider health professional resource;
• making decisions on award reviews where it is safe to do so, without the need to refer the review to an Assessment Provider.

Claimants are asked to contact us if their condition changes so their review can be looked at more quickly.