Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and colleague Sir Stephen Timms have faced questions on the assessment process for vulnerable claimants
The impact of PIP (Personal Independence Payment) assessments on vulnerable claimants is being questioned. The DWP benefit supports people who live with a long-term health condition or illness that affects their daily life or their ability to move around.
People get different amounts depending on their level of need so when you apply, you are assessed to determine your level of need. Liberal Democrat MP Manuela Perteghella asked Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, “whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the PIP review process on (a) vulnerable and (b) disabled claimants”.
Pensions minister, Sir Stephen Timms, said in response that “regular reviews” are an important feature of how PIP works to ensure payments match a claimant’s current needs. He said: “We understand that assessments can be stressful for some claimants which is why reviews are carried out without the need for the claimant to attend an assessment where sufficient and robust evidence is provided.
“Where an assessment is required, our Assessment Providers will choose the most appropriate method such as a phone, video or in-person assessment.” He also explained that the duration of a PIP award depends on how likely it is the person’s level of need will change.
He added: “Award durations can vary from nine months to an on-going award. Guidance ensures that those claimants on the highest level of support whose needs will not improve receive an ongoing award of PIP with a light touch review at the 10-year point.” To qualify for the support, you must have a qualifying health condition which you expect will affect your for at least 12 months from when you started to have the condition.
There is a daily living part and a mobility part to the benefit. There is a lower and higher rate for each element.
These are the current weekly rates:
Daily living part
Mobility part
Labour MP Kim Johnson also asked the Government if they would consider looking at the quality of decisions on how much PIP to award, given that some decisions are overturned on appeal. Mr Timms said in reply: “It is our aim to make the right decision as early as possible in the process.
“To support this we have made improvements to our decision-making processes, giving Decision Makers additional time to proactively contact customers if they think additional evidence may support the claim. We will continue to learn from decisions overturned at appeal, for example we regularly gather feedback from Presenting Officers who attend tribunal.”
You can challenge a decision about your PIP claim through a process called mandatory reconsideration, which is free to request. The Government is also making changes to PIP to make the application process easier to go through. This will include a new Health Assessment Service for all benefits that involve a health assessment.
