Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of personal independence payments have died within three months of having their application rejected.

Over 3.6 million applications to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were made between April 2013 and 30^th April 2018. Between April 2013 and 30^th April 2018, 3,680 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants died within three months of their initial application being disallowed.

Claims made under the special rules for people who are terminally ill are fast tracked and are currently being cleared at a median average of 6 working days for new claimants. This has reduced from a median average of 11 working days between April 2013 and March 2014.

Notes:

• These figures include claims cleared under normal rules and Special Rules for Terminally Ill people (SRTI).
• These figures include claimants whose initial claim was disallowed after assessment, for failing to attend assessment, for failing to return the PIP2 form or for failing lay rules. This does not take into account any mandatory reconsideration or appeal action so some of these claimants may have subsequently been awarded PIP.
• The point of initial decision on the application to PIP is taken as the day the DWP decision maker made a decision and recorded it on the PIP computer system.
• This is unpublished data from the PIP computer system’s (PIP CS) management information. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.
• Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and “three months” has been taken to be 93 days or less.
• Figures cover claims made up to and including 30^th April 2018.
• GB only.

Under the Social Security (Notification of Deaths) Regulations 2012 and s125 of Social Security Administration Act 1992 date of death is provided to the Department for all registered deaths. Additionally next of kin also provide information on the date of death of an individual and this information is used appropriately in the administration of Departmental benefits.