Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has revealed that some 65 per cent of applicants in Northern Ireland who have appealed a decision in relation to a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application have been successful in having their original decision overturned.
The Minister was responding to a question from DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen who had asked for a break down of the number of PIP appeals processed to conclusion in the last five years and that had the original decision overturned.
The figures released by the Minister show that 14,255 appeals had been processed between 2019 and the end of last year with 9242 of those being successful in overturning the previous decision.
The period between 2019 and 2020 saw the highest number of appeals lodged at 5961, with 3821 of those being successful (64 per cent); 2020-21 saw 1,190 appeals lodged, with 779 being successful (65 per cent); 2021-22 saw 710 appeals with 64.5 per cent of those being overturned, 2022 to 2023 saw 3514 appeals lodged with 65 per cent being overturned while 2023 to 24 saw 1839 appeals with 65.6 per cent being successful and last year saw 1041 appeals concluding with 65 per cent of those also being overturned.
A person may appeal a PIP decision if they believe the decision made about their claim is incorrect.
This can include situations where there is a disagreement about their award, where they believe the decision maker may have misinterpreted or overlooked medical evidence, where they believe that their medical assessment may not have fully or accurately reflected their condition, or if the claimant has additional evidence that was not considered during the initial decision.
Before making an appeal, the claimant must first ask the Department for Communities to review their decision. This is known as a mandatory reconsideration. The claimant must request this within one month of the date on their decision letter. The DfC will review the decision and issue a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice, which explains whether the decision has been changed or remains the same.
If the claimant is still unhappy with the decision after the mandatory reconsideration, they can appeal to an independent tribunal within one month of receiving the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice.
The tribunal will consider the appeal and review all evidence provided. This may include new medical evidence or testimony from the claimant. The hearing can be attended in person, via video or telephone, or on paper (if the claimant cannot attend). The tribunal will decide whether to uphold or overturn the original decision.
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English (United States) ·