IS PIP BENEFIT BEING CUT?

Alternatives to a cash transfer system

83. If DWP were to consider other ways of supporting people with disabilities and long-term health conditions apart from providing regular cash payments, it could continue to contribute to people’s extra costs through alternative models which could include:

• Catalogue/ shop scheme: in this kind of scheme, there would be an approved list from which disabled people could choose items at reduced or no cost. This would likely work better for equipment and aids rather than for services.
• Voucher scheme: in this kind of scheme, disabled people could receive vouchers to contribute towards specific costs. It could work for both equipment/aids and for services.
• A receipt-based system: this would involve claimants buying aids, appliances, or services themselves, and then providing proof of their purchase to claim back a contribution towards the cost. This could work in a similar way to Access to Work, which provides grants for equipment, adaptations, and other costs to help disabled people to start and stay in work.
• One-off grants: these could contribute towards specific, significant costs such as for home adaptations or expensive equipment. It could involve a person supplying medical evidence of their condition to demonstrate the need for equipment or adaptations.

84. While these alternative models help people with the extra costs of their disability or health condition, other forms of support including health care, social services care provision and respite are also important to help people to realise their full potential and live independently. We would like to understand whether some people receiving PIP who have lower, or no extra costs, may have better outcomes from improved access to treatment and support than from a cash payment.

85. We would also like to know whether there are specific groups of people who have a need of a greater level of support than they currently receive, and whether this support should be financial or take a different form, such as improved access to healthcare (such as mental health provision or physiotherapy) or enhanced local authority support (such as care packages, respite or home adaptations). We will further explore ways of improving people’s access to services in Chapter 4.

This is very timely to mrr. Thanks all. I haven't disable and worsening for about s year or so. O had to give up driving as I'm not permitted to to feet ang leg neuropathy. I can't feel them at all. I didn't leave the house for 8 months st all but haven't been trying to improve my lot for purchasing a sairlift and wheelchair. I can now leave the house when my wife is able to assist in moving the wheelchair as I can't do it and she works in office 3 weeks a month.

It still tough every day and I'm sure you know I gaveonthly bills. Twice needing to get to hospital in the last month coting £100.

My first ever pip review is tomorrow. I'd be grateful for any tips etc. a bit daunting because with all I read on here they may still say no.

Hi- just want to say the latest situation with PIP is worrying so I thought I’d try and give my thoughts.

The Green Paper brought out by the Tories has been consigned to the trash bin. It was unworkable anyway.

Ignore click bait media nonsense. It’s fake news and is usually found on local rags.

Likewise with “opinion”on social media- no substance to it.

I just go by official sources ie ministers statements( especially from dwp)

I can honestly say I haven’t heard anything from the government regarding cutting/means testing of disability benefits. Disability benefits help with the costs which arise from being disabled- they are not counted in means tested benefit assessments.
There will always be scaremongering and stirring out there. Try to see it for what it is- rubbish spouted by those who prey on the vulnerable.

Stay well and stay safe

Yes, there will be a Green Paper from Labour. The government did not respond to the consultation probably because there were consistent negative responses from all who replied.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously said people who claim long-term sickness benefits should be made to look for work if they are able to. The UK Government has vowed support to help people get jobs as ministers look to reduce the number of sickness benefits claimants.

The independent review is due to be completed by this Autumn but the UK Government said a first phase, involving Sir Charlie meeting businesses and health and disability organisations across the country, will be finished by Spring - when significant reforms to health and disability benefits are also expected to be published.

The DWP said Sir Charlie’s conversations with various groups will aim to “identify the scale, trends, obstacles and opportunities for companies when recruiting and retaining ill and disabled people.

His recommendations to the UK Government are expected later this year.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall warned the benefits bill for sickness and disability is set to rise “by £26 billion by the end of this Parliament” as she announced plans before Christmas to overhaul the welfare system.

Long-term sickness has been a major driver in joblessness since the pandemic and one of Labour’s pre-election promises was to increase the employment rate to 80 per cent from around 75 per cent, which would mean around two million more people in work.

Sir Charlie said: “Losing people from the workforce because of ill-health or disability is bad for many of the individuals, for the businesses employing them, and for the wider economy.

“It’s a growing problem for us all and it’s one that’s more likely to be resolved by business and government working together.

“I’m looking forward to engaging closely with businesses, government departments and the many organisations committed to improving our performance here.”

DWP described the challenge facing the UK Government as “stark”, as more than a third of working-age people report a long-term health condition and around a quarter are classed as disabled.

The disabled group are three times more likely to be not in work or looking for work, the department said.

Ms Kendall said: “Millions of people have been left without support to get into work and on at work, and completely held back from reaching their potential for far too long, and the record-high cost of long-term sickness benefits is evidence of that fact.

“That’s why I am pleased to have Sir Charlie leading this review, bringing a wealth of experience and helping us to get people into work, and most importantly keep them in work, so we can boost living standards and get our economy growing.”

As part of the plan, Jobcentre’s are to change their focus from monitoring and managing benefit claims to skills and careers, mental health support will be expanded to reduce waiting lists in areas with the highest levels of economic inactivity, and mayors south of the border will be empowered to join up local work, health and skills support to tackle the root causes of inactivity in their areas.

People with epilepsy often report challenges in applying for PIP, with the system being called “chronically flawed” and “not fit for purpose” by Epilepsy Action.

Previous surveys have revealed that barriers included assessors not understanding epilepsy for 82% of people, and not taking medical records into account, reported by 78% of people.

People also found their answers weren’t recorded accurately and the PIP application form didn’t allow them to fully explain their condition.

Of those who were successful in claiming PIP, 63% reported that the money they received was not enough to cover their extra living costs. Disability charity Scope has calculated that disabled people face, on average, extra costs of £583 a month.