The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have side-stepped questions on whether cash payments of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will be replaced by vouchers, a proposal the Conservatives put forward in a consultation paper last year. Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello submitted four written questions relating to PIP reforms earlier this month, which all received the same response from Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, Sir Stephen Timms.
The Lib Dem MP for West Dorset asked questions pertaining to the upcoming DWP Green Paper, due to be published before the Spring Statement in March. However, when asked if any assessment had been made of the “potential impact of replacing Personal Independence Payment cash payments with vouchers on claimants’ autonomy and financial management”, Sir Stephen did not give a direct response.
Mr Morello also asked DWP if any assessment has been made on:
- The potential impact of the proposed changes to PIP on disabled individuals’ ability to manage their financial independence
- What Steps the DWP is taking to consult with disability advocacy groups on the proposed changes to PIP, including any changes to payment methods
- What steps the DWP is taking to ensure that any proposed changes to PIP do not lead to financial hardship or reduced quality of life for recipients
Sir Stephen did not address any of the questions posed, but in a written response, said: “This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do.
“We are committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term.
“We are working to develop proposals for reform in the months ahead and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the Spring Statement later this year.”
In June 2024, the then-Conservative government published proposals for welfare reform in the ‘Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper ’ which aimed to cut £12billion from the welfare bill each year until 2030.
Changes included swapping cash PIP payments of up to £737.20 every four-week payment period for a range of other support, including vouchers, one-off grants, a receipt-based scheme or choosing support aids from a catalogue.
The paper was scrapped after Labour won the general election on July 4, however, the DWP also aims to reform the health and disability benefits system, but has said it will work with disability groups and organisations and publish a consultation on proposed changes.
Disability benefits in Scotland
The remaining 80,000 existing Scots PIP claimants will be transferred to Adult Disability Payment on the devolved Social Security Scotland system by this Spring. All other disability benefit claimants with a Scottish postcode will see their award transferred by the end of this year.