The Right Payment Programme

What is it?

The Right Payment Programme (RPP) is a system for checking that your disability living allowance (DLA) claim is correct. It was introduced in May 2007 to replace the Periodic Review (PR).

The RPP takes a sample of 12,000 DLA cases each year (there are 2.5 million people on DLA). Of these, 3750 are chosen at random and the remaining 8250 cases are chosen from those awards, which Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) research has shown, are most likely to change.

Does it apply to everyone?

You are only exempt from the RPP if you are terminally ill. However if your DLA has been paid under the Special Rules (for terminal illness cases) for over three years, you may be sent an enquiry form asking for up-to-date information on your condition.

You should not be contacted under the RPP if your claim has been awarded within the last 12 months.

What happens with RPP?

If you are selected, you will be sent a form to complete and return by post. This is based on the DLA claim form you completed. If you have not kept a copy of your old claim form but want to consult it for reference you can ask the DWP for a copy.

The enquiry form must be returned within three weeks, although you can ask for a little longer if necessary.

Once you have returned it the form is considered by a special team of decision makers. If these decision makers consider there has been a change in your entitlement they will change your award. In some cases you will be contacted and asked to supply more information before a decision is made.

WHERE CAN I GET HELP?

You should seek further advice if you want to challenge a decision about your benefit. You can get help with your appeal at a local advice centre, such as a citizen's advice bureau. You can get more information about this from our factsheet F16, Finding a local advice centre, which is available at www.cara-online.org

Central Africa’s Rights & AIDS (CARA) Society has also published Benefit appeals - A guide to benefit appeals for advisers and disabled people. This guide helps you prepare for an appeal tribunal and will increase your chances of success at the hearing. It takes you through all the stages of the benefit decision-making process from the moment you receive an unsatisfactory decision through to the tribunal hearing.

It is available to have a look at it on our website at www.cara-online.org or by contacting Central Africa’s Rights & AIDS (CARA) Society on Tel: +44(0)20 7254 6415(voice and minicom) - Mob.:+44(0)7956 95 26 45 - Fax: +44(0)872 115 8436 - Email: caraas@hotmail.com

Updated July 2009