DWP broadcasts Pip modifications affecting all 4m claimants | EUROtoday

The UK’s tens of millions of non-public independence cost (Pip) claimants will quickly be topic to new guidelines round well being assessments underneath legal guidelines being laid by the federal government.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed on Monday that it’s shifting to set all award evaluations at a minimal of three years for brand new claims, rising to 5 years at their subsequent assessment if the claimant stays entitled.

In most instances, this may scale back the frequency of award evaluations for Pip claimants, with the uncertainty round reassessments usually cited as a key situation of the system.

The DWP notes that round 60 per cent of evaluations at present lead to no change of award, and nonetheless encourages claimants whose wants change to inform the division.

Currently claimed by 3.9 million individuals, Pip is designed to assist with additional prices incurred by residing with an sickness or incapacity.

The well being profit is at present underneath assessment by incapacity minister Sir Stephen Timms, who goals to make it “fair and fit for the future”. The assessment goals to report within the autumn of this yr.

The cost was on the coronary heart of Labour’s plans to axe welfare spending final yr, when proposals to tweak its evaluation standards to successfully make it tougher to say had been met with fierce opposition from marketing campaign teams and politicians.

Ministers backed down on the plans in late June after over 100 Labour MPs threatened to vote towards the federal government on the measures. The concession – and assessment – was introduced by Sir Stephen in the midst of the controversy on the laws.

Commenting on the brand new modifications, Sir Stephen instructed The Independent: “Reforming the welfare system so that it better meets the needs of disabled people is a priority for the government.

“A major part of this is ensuring that Pip is fit and fair for the future – and we are taking an important step to improve the system through new legislation, which will reduce the frequency of reviews for many existing Pip customers.

“This will make the system more efficient by freeing up the capacity of health professionals to tackle our inherited assessment backlog, while removing unnecessary pressure from disabled claimants whose conditions rarely change at each review.

“We are also increasing face-to-face assessments for Pip from 6 per cent in 2024 to 30 per cent of all assessments. Additionally, my review is looking into how we can bolster Pip for the future, and we have opened a call for evidence for people to share their views on how Pip should be reformed.”

Fazilet Hadi, Disability Rights UK’s head of coverage, mentioned: “Reducing the frequency of Pip reviews makes sense, both for disabled people and DWP. So often our needs remain the same, and reviews just cause anxiety.

“It is of concern that face-to-face reviews will increase, as these can be physically and emotionally challenging. The government needs to ensure that it makes the necessary reasonable adjustments for assessments and reviews, as required by the Equality Act.

“We would encourage disabled people to respond to the Pip review. Pip is a lifeline for many of us, contributing to our additional disability-related costs. We need to see levels reviewed and fairer eligibility and assessment processes put in place. The notion that Pip should be used as a passport to the health component of universal credit also needs serious scrutiny.”