Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time is between a decision being made on a personal independence payment application and a first payment being made on that claim.

The data is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

For the majority of new claimants to personal independence payment (PIP), they will be paid any arrears of benefit within a few days of the decision being made. Regular payments will then start using a 4 week in arrears payment cycle. Some claimants may not be entitled to any arrears or may have to wait for PIP to go into payment following the decision on their claim. This includes where the 28 day run for reassessed claims is being applied (described further below), where further enquiries are required to establish bank details, where the qualifying period of 3 months has yet to be satisfied or the where the claimant is in hospital, a care home or prison and where PIP, or a component of PIP, is not payable until the claimant leaves that establishment.

For existing claimants of disability living allowance (DLA) claiming PIP, they can continue to receive their DLA throughout their claim to PIP, so long as they comply with all the processes. Additionally, all claimants are paid DLA for a further 28 days following the weekly payday, immediately after the decision on their PIP claim is made. Successful claimants to PIP see no break in payment when they move from DLA to PIP, subject to other rules being satisfied, for example those relating to residency in a care home or hospital.