Earlier this month, the Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, Sir Stephen Timms confirmed that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does “not intend to publish a response to the previous Government’s consultation”, effectively kicking the prospect of swapping Personal Independence Payment (PIP) cash for vouchers or grants into the long grass.
Sir Stephen gave the written response to Lib Dems Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain, who asked if the DWP planned to respond to the consultation, published by the then Conservative government. Now, in another written statement, the DWP Minister has confirmed that the Department is “exploring potential changes to modernise the PIP service to improve claimants’ experience and trust in our services and decisions”.
He added that details of any changes to PIP will be set out “in due course”. Labour MP Charlotte Nichols had asked the DWP what progress has been made on “reviewing the fairness of PIP assessments”.
On October 25, Sir Stephen replied that the DWP is “not currently undertaking” any such review. He continued; “PIP is designed to treat all claimants fairly, focusing on the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, rather than the condition itself.
“Individuals can be impacted by their health conditions in different ways, so the PIP assessment considers the needs of each individual claimant against the assessment criteria set out in legislation, regardless of whether those needs relate to a physical or non-physical impairment.”
The DWP Minister went on to explain how the DWP has “set standards for the quality of assessments and closely monitors all aspects of the process”, which includes the performance of the assessment suppliers.
He added: “Our audit process considers the initial review, evidence collection, further evidence provided, and the advice within the assessment report completed by a health professional (HP). The check is completed against a set of guidelines to ensure a consistent approach is taken. This ensures that assessment reports are fit for purpose, clinically justified and sound, and provide sufficient information for the department to make an informed decision on entitlement to benefit.”
Sir Stephen also said that all assessment suppliers work with the DWP on “plans to continuously improve assessment quality” through a range of measures.
This includes:
- Audit procedures
- Clinical observations
- Tailored training and development plans
- Providing feedback
- Support available to Health Professionals
He continued: “All claimants have the right to request a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) if they disagree with their PIP decision. If they disagree with the outcome of their MR, they are able to appeal to an independent tribunal.
“We are exploring potential changes to modernise the PIP service to improve claimants’ experience and trust in our services and decisions. We will set out the details of any changes in due course.”