The DWP may owe thousands of older Britons up to seven years of payments after the error

In a major Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigation, it has emerged that thousands of older people in the UK were wrongly denied an increase in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the 2010s. analysis of the mishandling of payments for enhanced mobility has promised to reimburse those affected.

Disability benefits campaigners have slammed the PIP legislation as “poorly drafted”, following revelations that many older Britons who had PIP assessments between 2013 and 2020 did not receive the increased rate for mobility problems. This issue could affect anyone over State Pension age who was eligible for an Enhanced Mobility Payment, including those who no longer receive PIP.

The confusion arose from how health assessors determined the final PIP mobility award, which led to the loss of vital disability support. Specifically, claimants who failed to clearly communicate during their assessment that their mobility needs had changed were denied additional funding, the Manchester Evening News reports.

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The higher mobility component is currently priced at £75.75 weekly or £3939 annually.

Benefits and Work, shedding light on the DWP error, said: “Generally, claimants who have reached retirement age cannot receive an award of the standard rate of PIP mobility award increased to enhanced.

“However, because the law in this regard has been poorly drafted, claimants who have not claimed an increase, but who have had a PIP assessment where a health assessor has found they now meet the criteria for an increased award, may have the right to a higher rate.”

You may be entitled to an increased award for the mobility part of PIP, even if you have stopped getting PIP, if all of the following apply:

• Your PIP claim was reviewed between 8 April 2013 and 29 November 2020
• You are over the state pension age
• You have received the standard mobility award rate
• You have not reported a change in your circumstances that will affect your mobility needs
• You had a health professional assessment that recommended the increased mobility award rate
• You continued to receive the standard mobility award rate
• Your decision letter said we can’t increase your mobility award because you’re over State Pension age

How to apply to have your PIP claim reviewed

If you think this will affect your PIP award, you will need to contact the DWP to request a review. Using the PIP hotline, which operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, you will need to request a ‘Regulation 27 administrative exercise review’.

The PIP helpline number is 0800 121 6579, but if you have accessibility issues there are other ways to contact DWP available on Gov.uk. You will need your National Insurance number to hand so that assessors can find your original claim.

Once the DWP has reviewed your case, they will contact you if you need to provide more information to support their review of your PIP claim. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the DWP will then work out how much money you should have been paid during that period.

The DWP says: “If we had to pay you more, we will pay you that.”