In December the DWP announced a Consultation on aids and appliances and the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
You can click this link to read the DWP consultation document and to find versions in easy read and audio format.
Grapevine have compiled a response to this, using collective feedback from our service users and based on what they have told us. You can click here to view our response.
Our service has been very busy with requests from disabled people and people with long-term conditions in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, who require assistance with Personal Independence Payment (PIP), (including new claims; those whose award is subject to an ‘intervention’ up to 12 months prior to it expiring); and since October 2015, those on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) indefinite awards being reassessed for PIP.
We have concerns that this consultation includes proposals which could significantly change the assessment criteria for PIP. It also comes at a time when Scotland is taking views on its new social security system which we have fed into via the Scottish Government’s processes and are supporting disabled people to have an ongoing dialogue about what kind of a system disabled people and carers would like to see.
Up until now there has been uncertainty and mistrust around PIP, due to the focus on public expenditure cuts which accompanied the roll out of it. This consultation seems to only further emphasise this with suggested measure outlined in the consultation document.
There is an event taking place in Edinburgh on the 25th of January 2016 which the DWP are hosting.
People can register via this email: pip.consultationevents2016@dwp.gsi.gov.uk. We will put more information about this when we can find out more about where it is and times, etc