Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about disability benefits.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was an outdated, complex benefit introduced over 20 years ago which does not reflect today’s understanding of disability. Most people who claim DLA have conditions that change over time, yet over 70 per cent of people were receiving DLA for life without any inbuilt, systematic reviews. This led to hundreds of millions of pounds in overpayments and underpayments.
The aim of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is to ensure support is focused on those with the greatest barriers to independence. As such, the assessment of eligibility focuses on an individual’s ability to carry out key everyday activities. I welcome that for another year, benefits including PIP, increased from April 2021 in line with inflation (0.5 per cent). From April 2022, benefits including PIP will increase by 3.1 per cent. Unlike DLA, PIP is designed to focus support on those with the greatest need. We have seen that working with 33 per cent of the PIP caseload receiving the highest level of support compared to 15 per cent in DLA when PIP was introduced.
PIP involves an objective assessment. Where there is sufficient information the claimant will be assessed on a paper basis. Where further evidence is needed, an Assessment Provider will schedule a face-to-face or telephone-based consultation.
After the High Court’s judgment on mobility and mental health claimants, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is identifying claimants who may be eligible for more support under PIP. I understand that administrative exercises have been paused due to the Covid-19 outbreak, enabling the Department to focus on processing and paying new claims. This pause will be kept under review as demands on DWP services change.
Claimants who are entitled to additional support will be contacted and payments will be backdated to the effective date in each individual claim. This will not involve any additional face-to-face reassessments.
I understand your concern about this issue and we must continually seek improvements, but I do believe the Government is committed to ensuring disability benefits are compassionate, practical and works for claimants.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
