NEW CLAIMANTS of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in various regions of the West Midlands, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Staffordshire are now aple to apply online for the benefit.
PIP claimants in Birmingham, Malvern Hills, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, Sandwell, Worcester, Wychavon and Wyre Forest will all be first to receive access to the online applications process, as part of the governments transformation of the service.
The government have plans for a national roll-out of the online application process by 2024.
Until now, the new online application service had been offered to a small number of claimants who initially called the phone line to begin their claim, with more than 9,000 having tested the new service in England as part of the testing phase.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already introduced a digital version of the PIP2 health questionnaire, which allows people to outline how their health condition or disability affects them, which is now offered to the majority of those making a claim.
This will continue to be offered to those who call DWP to begin their claim.
Minister for disabled people, health and work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:
“Our transformation of the PIP service will make the entire claimant experience better, and gradually introducing the option to apply online is an important next step in this process.
“The option to apply for PIP online at any time is more convenient and removes the need for people to make a phone call or fill in a paper form to start their claim.
“This will make it easier for people to make a claim for the benefit and receive the money they are entitled to. I look forward to the service being available to all claimants by 2024.”
The latest phase of testing the new online service to apply for PIP will make it available directly via GOV.UK to people living in selected postcode districts in England.
Claimants using the new online service must be claiming for themselves and must not already be claiming PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
People will remain able to apply for PIP through existing routes as normal, even when the online service has been fully rolled out.
This will occur without a reduction in the level of support available via telephone.
The online service also includes the ability to save, resume and upload medical evidence, providing a clear, joined-up experience for claimants.
The DWP will evaluate the online service as it increases the number of people able to use it.
