Rachel has issued the following response to constituents who have contacted her about Personal Independence Payment assessments.
Let me first say that I am proud that every year over £50 billion is spent to support people with disabilities and health conditions, over £7 billion more than in 2010. I passionately believe we should focus support on those who need it. PIP is designed to ensure support is focused on those with the greatest barrier to independence. I am glad that since its introduction, 29 per cent of claimants are now on the highest level of support, up from 15 per cent previously.
I appreciate your concerns about the assessment process. The Department for Work and Pensions is continually reviewing and refining the PIP process in order to improve its efficiency, effectiveness and the claimant experience.
New claims are now being cleared in under a third of the time they were in July 2014, at a current average of 16 weeks from registration to decision. I understand that the Government is committed to further improving this process. Assessments are independently audited to ensure that they are accurate and fair. There is a legislative requirement that two independent reviews of PIP are carried out, the Government has formally responded to the first’s recommendations and is currently considering the second’s.
A public consultation has just closed which asked how the assessment process could be made easier and quicker, with particular focus on how information can be shared between decision makers, lessening the amount of paperwork for claimants. I am encouraged also that a new feedback system will be introduced for claimants to talk about their experience claiming PIP, which will help focus reforms where they matter to claimants.
Date published: 15 February 2018.
As with all items in the FAQ Library, answers are subject to modification as events and circumstances change and evolve. If you would like an answer that is more specific to your circumstances, or to seek and up-to-date response, please email rachel.maclean.mp@parliament.uk.
