The DWP has been consulting on potential changes to the Personal Independence Payment system, which could see the £434 benefit stopped for million, with the consultation coming to an end soon
Time is nearly up for benefit claimants to weigh in on the upcoming overhaul of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which could see cash payments removed and replaced with vouchers. The consultation on the disability and sickness benefit began under the Conservatives but the new Labour government has said it will review the proposals once the public have had their say.
PIP is a lifeline for more than four million Brits, providing additional cash for living expenses to those with disabilities and long-term health conditions. Under reforms proposed by the previous government to tackle “sick note culture”, this growing number of people out of work due to poor health could see their payments stop, or turned into vouchers for equipment to help with their disability.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is steering these potential reforms for claimants in England and Wales, but the reforms have proved controversial with disability campaigners worried about the impact that losing PIP would have on vulnerable people. For those with the most severe mobility and disability issues, these payments are worth up to £434.20 every month.
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The public consultation of the proposals in the ‘Modernising Support for Independent Living’ green paper is due to end today. Included in the policy paper are plans to transform assessment procedures to align more closely with individual health conditions, ditch the current cash reward system for alternatives like vouchers, and to require submitted receipts for payments, reports the Manchester Evening News.
How does PIP currently work?
When making a claim for the first time, an assessment will be carried out on how an individual’s condition affects their daily life and what level of extra support they may need.
Official guidance on GOV.UK states: “As the assessment principles consider the impact of a claimant’s condition on their ability to live independently and not the condition itself, claimants with the same condition may get different outcomes. The outcome is based on an independent assessment and all available evidence.”
When you apply for PIP, a healthcare professional will assess your ability to perform various daily living and mobility activities
PIP consists of two components: the daily living component and the mobility component. Each can be paid at either a standard or enhanced rate ranging from £28.70 to £185.30 per week.
Daily Living component
You might get the daily living component of PIP if you need help with:
- eating, drinking or preparing food
- washing, bathing and using the toilet
- dressing and undressing
- reading and communicating
- managing your medicines or treatments
- making decisions about money
- socialising and being around other people
Mobility component
You might get the mobility component of PIP if you need help with:
- working out a route and following it
- physically moving around
- leaving your home
Having your say on the PIP consultation
The main goal of the consultation, according to the government website, is to “seek views on the approaches government should consider around modernising the welfare system for people with disabilities and health conditions.”
Therefore, the consultation will be considering views from members of the public on how it can effectively make changes to the PIP system. There are two ways you could potentially have your voice heard in the consultation.
Online form
You can use this online form to answer set questions about how you feel over the recommended changes to the PIP system. In total, there are 39 questions which you can answer in as much depth as you want, furthermore, you are not required to provide any personal information to have your say through this form.
If you are not comfortable filling in the form, or only have a few issues you want to raise, you can instead email [email protected]. This email can also be used to send any enquiries you have regarding specifics of the consultation.
