A recent court ruling has resulted in the government being forced to change the rules for PIP applications. These changes are expected to benefit thousands of people by seeing them granted higher disability rights. A major change to the application is the decision to scrap rules based on how “unlikely” a person was to come to harm, and instead, judges have ruled that the DWP should base these decisions on how serious harm can be for the individual, not how likely. Changes like these will mean that a lot of people with conditions such as epilepsy have a much smaller chance of getting rejected for a claim. These changes will also see many existing claimants benefit in various ways.
A DWP report has claimed that by 2022-23 approximately 10,000 people will now get between £70-90 extra a week, backdated to the tribunal, which took place in March. The changes will also see people with mental health issues or sensory difficulties applications reviewed in, what is considered to be, a fairer way for PIP. Phil Reynolds of Parkinson’s UK said in an interview that “this leaves disabled people in a really confused position about what the government might do next and what the change means for them.”
These changes came after it was reported that complaints about the PIP process rose by 880% over the last year. DWP figures confirmed the dissatisfaction of claimants, as they showed that the number of complaints about PIP assessments that were upheld rose by more than 700%. The increase in both complaints lodged and complaints which are upheld, coincide with a rise of PIP claims registered, by 34%, across 2016-17.
Despite all of these complaints, the DNS only decided to start its investigation in November. However, the DNS has now heard from more than 250 people, with claims ranging from their assessment reports being dishonest to claims that assessors from contractors Capita & Atos have lied, ignored written evidence and wrongly reported the results of their physical examinations.
Are you happy with the changes made to the PIP application process? Do you have any other suggestions of how to improve the system? We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions via our Facebook page, or on Twitter @Wheelfreedom. Or to contact us directly about anything please call 08000258005.
