Disability Benefits Consortium Report into PIP

SIA is a member of the Disability Benefits Consortium who have produced a report into Personal Independence Payments called ‘Supporting those who need it most?’

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit designed to help disabled people manage the extra costs of their disability. When PIP works it works well in providing vital financial support to disabled people, but new research by 80 disability charities has found that for too many people, PIP isn’t working. When it fails people find it stressful, that it makes their condition worse and that it leaves them struggling financially.

As a result of this flawed assessment process, people are losing out on vital support with half (50%) of respondents saying they were receiving less money under PIP than they were previously entitled to under DLA, or they had lost their award completely.

The report warns of the devastating consequences this is having, including people:

• becoming more isolated (40%)
• struggling to pay for food, rent and bills (35%)
• not able to get to medical appointments (26%)

Most MPs aren’t aware of the significant problems with PIP. Please write to your MP to give them the facts about PIP and ask them to contact the Minister on your behalf.

If this issue affects you, please get in touch with your MP and send them a letter highlighting the issue. You can do this here.