Disability charity Scope pours scorn on Personal Independent Payments (PIP)

As of today the Disability Living Allowance begins its exit from public life, giving way to the Coalition’s Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme based on face-to-face assessments to assess each individual’s route to an independent lifestyle.

Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey, hailed the reform as replacing an “outdated benefit”, giving way to a system that will “better reflect today's understanding of disability”.

The minister continues: “At the moment the vast majority of claimants get the benefit for life without any systematic reassessments and around 50% of decisions are made on the basis of the claim form alone – without any additional corroborating medical evidence.

“The Personal Independence Payment will include a new face-to-face assessment and regular reviews - something missing in the current system. This will ensure the billions we spend give more targeted support to those who need it most.”

Chief executive of disability charity Scope, Richard Hawkes, is yet to be convinced, however, who today has attacked the PIP system and looked to highlight the negative effects he believes will result.

He comments: “In 2013 disabled people are struggling to make ends meet. Life costs more if you’re disabled. But this year living costs are spiralling and income is flat-lining. Disabled people are getting into debt to pay for essentials.

“What’s the Government’s response? It is cutting a financial life-line for disabled people, which helps them meet the extra costs of day-to-day living when you are disabled. The reform is fundamentally flawed.

“DLA needs reforming and could be better targeted to meet the extra costs people face. But disabled people are frightened by the Government’s plans. They believe it’s just an excuse to cut their support.

“It doesn’t help that the Minister is able to predict exactly how many disabled people will receive support before they have even been tested. This raises alarming questions that the Government is working to arbitrary targets.

“For months now we have been saying the Government’s assessment for the new Personal Independence Payment is deeply flawed. It looks set to repeat the mistakes of the Work Capability Assessment.

“It doesn’t take into account all the barriers that disabled people face in daily life. This means the support won’t be targeted to those that really need it.

“If the Government is serious about a Paralympics legacy where disabled people can fulfil their potential, they urgently need to reconsider their approach to welfare.

“We have to start looking the bigger picture. At the same time local support for disabled people is being rationed as councils face budget cuts. This is about the kind of country we want to live in. In 2013, at the very least disabled people should be able to pay the bills and live independently.”

Vote here on whether you feel the PIP reforms will have a positive effect: www.homecare.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/24/will-the-new-personal-independence-payments-pip-support-societys-most-vulnerable