Thousands of Brits on benefits could be owed loads of money in backpay glitch

Could you be owed thousands of pounds in benefits?

One man received £12,000 after he contacted the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to recalculate his PIP payments.

Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is for people with long-term conditions which can be claimed by those with or without a job.

There is a mobility component which can increase the amount of money you get, if you're eligible.

In 2017, a court ruling found that assessments for this discriminated against people with mental health conditions.

People with certain issues should have more points when they're being assessed for Personal Independence Payments.

Now the DWP has been reviewing previous PIP claimants to see if they should be given more money.

So far the government has made 6,600 payments totalling £32million.

The DWP reckons as many as 164,000 are likely to be impacted and it could cost £3.7billion by 2022.

Currently the department is working through the review and contacting claimants it finds are owed backdated payments.

Anyone who thinks they're entitled can contact them directly and ask them to review their PIP payments.

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The court decisions impacts PIP claims that were decided between November 27, 2016, and June 28, 2018, says Citizens Advice.

Claims for PIP made after this date take into account the court ruling and those with mental health conditions are fairly treated.

You can ask DWP to look again if you have a mental health condition that makes going outside difficult.

Or if you didn't get the mobility component of PIP or got the standard rate of the mobility component.

There are 20 conditions which successful claimants have suffered from, according to Benefits at Work, and they are:

  • Agoraphobia
  • Alcohol misuse
  • Anxiety and depressive disorders (mixed)
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Autism
  • Bipolar affective disorder (Hypomania / Mania)
  • Cognitive disorders
  • Dementia
  • Depressive disorder
  • Drug misuse
  • Learning disability
  • Mood disorders
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD
  • Panic disorder
  • Personality disorder
  • Phobias
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Schizoaffective disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Stress reaction disorders

To claim you'll need your National Insurance number, address and contact details.

You can contact the PIP enquiry line to get hold of your decision letter on this number 0800 121 4433.

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