The government has launched a public consultation into its proposals for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
PIP helps working-age adults cover the extra living costs that come with health conditions and disabilities. The UK government is responsible for PIP in England and Wales, while the devolved governments of Northern Ireland and Scotland (Adult Disability Payment) handle their versions of the benefit separately.
You can have your say on the proposals by responding online, by email or by post. Everyone in the UK is welcome to share feedback by 22 July 2024. You don’t need to give your name or any other personal details to take part.
The government has published a green paper which details the proposed changes to the PIP assessment process, eligibility criteria and the type of support it plans to offer. It also suggests closer alignment of PIP support with existing NHS, social care and local authority services.
These are just some of the things that the public consultation asks for your views on:
- Alternatives to a cash payment:
- vouchers for specific costs such as equipment, aids and services.
- one-off grants for home adaptations or expensive equipment where medical evidence demonstrates a need.
- asking claimants to provide receipts for one-off purchases for aids, appliances or services before being reimbursed.
- Making medical evidence or a formal diagnosis a mandatory requirement and how to prevent this from impacting on the NHS.
- Determining eligibility for conditions that fluctuate or vary in severity.
- Changing the assessment so there’s more onus on your health condition, rather than its impact on your life.
- Ending the PIP assessment for people with certain health conditions (not specified) and terminal illnesses.
- Deciding whether the need for disability aids and appliances are good indicators of the ongoing extra costs.
- Ranking the extra costs incurred by disabled people in order of importance including additional food costs, medications and medical products, health and personal care, additional energy and utility costs.
- Removing PIP’s current ‘passport’ status. This may have implications for accessing other benefits and services.
It is important to point out that these are only proposals at this stage. According to Disability Rights UK, any new PIP reforms would require new primary legislation, and this is not likely until after the general election.
The MS Trust encourages members of our community to take this opportunity to have their say through the public consultation. Your voice matters.
We are working on our own response to the proposals and will submit our feedback before the July deadline. You are also very welcome to share your thoughts on the proposals with us by emailing resources@mstrust.org.uk by 30 June 2024.
