DWP minister admits PIP system causes 'huge anxiety'
The qualifying rules for PIP are changing from next year
Labour has addressed concerns that PIP claimants feel "extremely anxious" when they have to go through an assessment to decide how much they get. PIP (Personal Independence Payment) supports people who live with a long-term health condition or disability, providing varying levels of financial support depending on how you are affected in your daily life and in your ability to get around.
The DWP benefit includes a daily living part and a mobility part with an lower and upper payment depending on your level of need, and you can get nothing for one part if you do are not affected enough by your condition. New applicants often go through an assessment with a health professional to decide their level of payment, and you may have to go through a fresh assessment when your award is due to end, to determine again how much you should get.
Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello spoke about how in his constituency of West Dorset, some 40% of PIP claimants get the highest rate, meaning they get £110.40 a week for the daily living part and £77.05 a week for the mobility element. The lower daily living part is £73.90 a week while the lower mobility payment is £29.20 a week.
Mr Morello asked the Government in the House of Commons: "Many are extremely anxious about PIP assessments being carried out over the phone rather than in person, particularly those with complex or fluctuating conditions. Will the minister guarantee that anyone who wants an in-person assessment will receive one?"
In response, DWP minister Liz Kendall said that the Government "absolutely want" for claimants to have the option of an in-person assessment. She added: "Indeed, we want to record the assessments as standard to ensure that claimants have confidence in what is being done."
Yet she also acknowledged the stress that waiting for an assessment result can cause: "This is an issue that causes huge anxiety among my constituents. Too many decisions take too long and are overturned, and we want to deal with these problems head-on."
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As part of wider efforts to reform the benefits system, the Government is looking to change PIP assessments. Ministers will be consulting with disabled people as well as with disability advocacy groups, in working to improve the system.
Some other major changes to PIP are coming up, as from next year the eligibility criteria for the daily living part will become stricter. An additional rule will mean you have to get at least one score of 4 on one of the daily living activities to get the payment.
At present, you only need a total of 8 points across the 10 activities to get the lower rate and a total of 12 points to get the higher rate. A person who went from the higher rate to no longer qualifying would lose out on over £5,700 a year.
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