If your PIP is stopped or reduced

You might need to challenge the decision or start a new claim. It depends on the reason the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stopped or reduced your PIP.

If you’ve reached State Pension age

There are extra rules if you’re making a new claim for PIP after you’ve reached State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK.

Check if you can get PIP after State Pension age.

The DWP might have stopped or reduced your PIP because:

• you didn’t return a review form in time

• you’ve reached the end of your fixed-term PIP award

• you had a medical assessment and the DWP decided your condition has improved

• you missed a medical assessment

• you told the DWP about a change of circumstances and they decided you can’t get PIP any more

• the DWP is taking back a benefit overpayment

• you’ve been accused of benefit fraud

If the DWP say your PIP has stopped because you’re subject to immigration control, get help from an adviser.

If you’re not sure why the DWP stopped or reduced your PIP, you can:

• check any letters the DWP have sent you – they should explain what has happened

• call the PIP enquiry line and ask them to explain

If you didn’t return a review form on time

Contact the DWP as soon as possible, explain why you haven’t returned the form yet and ask for more time.

If the DWP agree to give you more time, fill in the form and send it to them - check how to fill in the review form. If they decide you can still get PIP, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

If the DWP won’t give you more time to send your review form, you should start a new PIP claim as soon as possible. Check how to make a new PIP claim.

You can also challenge the decision to stop your PIP if there’s a good reason you didn’t send your review form in time. For example, if you were ill or had an emergency at home.

If your challenge is successful, the DWP will pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

You should start your challenge within 1 month of the decision. Check how to challenge a PIP decision.

If you’ve reached the end of your fixed-term PIP award

What you should do depends on whether you were sent a review form before your PIP ended.

If you weren’t sent a review form

If you’re still sick or disabled and think you should still get PIP, you should make a new claim as soon as possible. Check how to make a new PIP claim.

If you returned your review form but didn’t get a reply

Contact the DWP as soon as possible. Check they got the form and ask when they’ll make a decision.

If you had a medical assessment and the DWP decide your condition has improved

If the DWP think your condition has improved, they might decide you can’t get PIP anymore - or that you can’t get as much PIP.

If you think the DWP is wrong, check how to challenge a PIP decision. Ask your GP or specialist for a letter that says your condition hasn’t got better, and send it to the DWP when you challenge the decision.

If you missed a medical assessment

You’ll need to go to a medical assessment to get PIP again.

Call the DWP as soon as possible. Explain why you missed the medical assessment and ask to book another one. If they let you book a medical assessment and they decide you can still get PIP, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

If the DWP won’t let you book another medical appointment, you should start a new PIP claim as soon as possible. Check how to make a new PIP claim.

You can also challenge the decision to stop your PIP if there’s a good reason you didn’t go to the assessment. For example, if you were ill or had an emergency at home.

If your challenge is successful, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.

You should start your challenge within 1 month of the decision. Check how to challenge a PIP decision.

If you’ve told the DWP about a change of circumstances

The DWP will stop your PIP if they think the change means you can’t get it anymore, for example if:

• you went abroad for more than 13 weeks

• you’ve been in a hospital, care home or prison for more than 4 weeks

You can check which changes of circumstances will stop you getting PIP. If you think the DWP made a mistake, check how to challenge the decision to stop your PIP.

If your circumstances change again and you think you can get PIP again, call the DWP and tell them. They might agree to start your PIP claim again or they might tell you to make a new claim - check how to make a PIP claim.

If the DWP is taking back a benefit overpayment

If the DWP says you’ve had an overpayment, it means you’ve been paid too much PIP - or another benefit. The DWP will reduce your PIP until they’ve taken back the overpayment. You can check the rules about benefit overpayments.

If you’re struggling to pay for basic things like food or rent, contact the DWP’s Debt Management contact centre. Tell them about your situation - they might agree to ignore the overpayment or take less off your PIP.

If you’ve been accused of benefit fraud

The DWP will stop your PIP while they investigate. Check what to do if you’re invited to an interview for benefit fraud.

If your condition gets worse or you have a new condition, you should make a new claim - check how to make a new PIP claim. If not, you have to wait until the DWP finish investigating.

If the DWP decide you didn’t commit benefit fraud, they’ll pay you the money you would have got if it hadn’t stopped.