Disabled Woman Wrongly Accused by DWP of Owing £28,000 in PIP Payments

Michelle Burns, a disabled woman, faced a distressing situation when her PIP benefits were abruptly halted by the DWP

In July, Michelle Burns, a recipient of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for six years, was shocked to learn that she owed £28,000 in overpayments. The DWP accused her of being ineligible for PIP altogether. However, after The Big Issue intervened on her behalf, the DWP admitted their error, apologised to Burns, reinstated her PIP payments, and dropped the overpayment allegation. The DWP stated, “We have apologised to Ms Burns for any distress caused. The overpayment has been cancelled, the PIP award reinstated, and arrears will be issued.”

Inaccurate Assessment Led to Unfounded Debt

Despite the DWP rejecting 47% of PIP claims, Burns’ PIP had been extended to 2024 due to pandemic-related backlogs. However, her recent reassessment via video call resulted in the false accusation. Burns, along with her visually impaired husband James Jolley, underwent significant stress and anxiety due to the unwarranted debt claims.

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