The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has garnered a “mixed” barrage of reactions, some being “consistently negative”, from the public on its suggested changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), according to a recent report. The latest DWP figures reveal that record numbers, exceeding 3.6 million individuals across Great Britain, now receive up to £737.20 monthly through PIP.
SNP MP Chris Law recently grilled DWP on whether the UK Government will implement recommendations from their ‘Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper,’ initially presented by the previous Tory administration in April. The subsequent consultation proposed various welfare reforms, ranging from alternatives to direct cash payments of PIP, including vouchers, one-off grants, reimbursement schemes or selecting supportive equipment from a catalogue, to overhauling PIP eligibility and assessment processes and even pondering the transfer of PIP costs onto the NHS and local authorities.
Sir Stephen Timms MP, the Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, in a written response, informed the MP for Dundee West that the consultation received a staggering 16,000-plus responses during its 12 weeks, concluding its findings on July 22 , reports the Daily Record.
He stated: “This demonstrates the depth of feeling about the previous Government’s proposals. I thank the British public, as well as the numerous charities and organisations who responded on behalf of their members, for the time and effort taken to share their thoughts and views.”
“Whilst engaging with responses, I can confirm that responses to the set of proposals on the reform of Personal Independence Payments was mixed and for some proposals consistently negative.”
Mr Timms further commented: “We will be setting out our own plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do.”
Parliament is currently in recess until Monday, October 7, due to the party conference season. This break aligns with the next scheduled DWP oral questions session in the House of Lords.
In what promises to be a pivotal moment for the new ministerial team led by Liz Kendall, they will come under the microscope from the opposition – an encounter that could offer millions of PIP claimants vital clues about the Green Paper’s suggestions.
The Green Paper itself hints at the possibility of the DWP considering different approaches to aid individuals with disabilities and long-term health conditions aside from regular cash payments, potentially continuing to meet their extra costs through a variety of alternative schemes.
The proposed schemes include:
These include:
- Catalogue/ shop scheme:This would involve an approved list from which disabled individuals could select items at reduced or no cost. It’s likely to be more effective for equipment and aids rather than services.
- Voucher scheme: Under this scheme, disabled people could receive vouchers to help cover specific costs. It could be applicable for both equipment/aids and services.
- A receipt-based system: This would require claimants to purchase aids, appliances, or services themselves, then provide proof of purchase to claim a contribution towards the cost. It could operate similarly to Access to Work, which offers grants for equipment, adaptations, and other costs to assist disabled people in starting and maintaining employment.
- One-off grants: These could contribute towards specific, significant costs such as home adaptations or expensive equipment. It might require a person to provide medical evidence of their condition to demonstrate the need for equipment or adaptations.
However, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has projected that the proposed changes to the Work Capability Assessment could result in 424,000 individuals with severe mobility or mental health issues losing out on additional Universal Credit of over £400 a month and protection from sanctions.
Based on the OBR’s estimates, only three per cent of these individuals are expected to find employment within the next four years.
