Risk and safety: changes to PIP law from 21 August 2020
Updated 22 May 2024
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Background
When applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) considers your ability to wash and bathe.
Change to PIP law
Following a tribunal ruling, from 21 August 2020, there has been a change in how we consider whether someone can wash or bathe safely, as part of the PIP assessment.
If a deaf or hearing impaired claimant is not able to hear a standard fire alarm while washing or bathing, although the risk from a fire is low, we now consider whether a visual alarm (an aid or appliance) is needed, or supervision if a visual alarm would not be appropriate, in order to wash or bathe safely.
What this means for you
We are now looking at PIP claims from deaf or hearing impaired people who may be affected by this change. This includes reviewing some claims we decided on or after 21 August 2020, including ones where we did not award PIP. We are not planning to ask you to provide any further evidence or invite you for an assessment as part of this review. We will be looking at information we already have about your hearing impairment from your PIP claim.
We will not look again at your claim if:
- we awarded you the enhanced rate of the daily living part of PIP continuously since 21 August 2020
- a Tribunal has made a decision on your claim since 21 August 2020
- we decided not to award you PIP before 21 August 2020
If we review your claim, we will write to you and you do not need to contact us. It may take some time for you to get this letter.
If we decide that you should get more PIP, then your award will usually be backdated to 21 August 2020. If you claimed PIP after 21 August 2020, it will usually be backdated to the date you started getting PIP.
You can apply for PIP again if you think you may now be eligible. The change to PIP law will apply to all new claims.
It has been applied to all PIP decisions since 17 May 2021.
Help with PIP
You can contact a local support organisation or Citizens Advice to get help understanding PIP.