PIP has barely emerged from the starting blocks but is already in deep trouble.
The latest report by Commons Public Accounts Committee, which brands the implementation of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) a ‘fiasco’ comes as no surprise to Disability Rights UK.
In the past we have highlighted the fact that disabled people are waiting over 6 months for their PIP claims to be assessed with 75% of claimants not yet having received any decision on their claim (See ‘PIP stats show broken system’ at http://disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2014/june/pip-stats-show-broken-system).
We have also voiced concerns about avoiding a one size fits all approach which potentially excludes disabled people from a benefit to which they are legally entitled.
Liz Sayce said ‘Having an accident, developing a health condition, becoming disabled – these are life-changing experiences. Why should you have to wait more than 6 months to start adapting to your new circumstances, and risk going into debt, because of the delays in PIP decisions? Getting a PIP decision could enable you to get an adapted car and start travelling again, or pay for other extra costs of disability. The delays are completely unacceptable’
The money provided by PIP is vital in enabling disabled people to leading an independent life because they can use it to pay for much needed support. The Government’s poor track record in implementing PIP and the delays and misery it has caused suggests it needs to recognise this.
We welcome the recommendations made by Public Accounts Committee but recommendations are not enough. We call on the Government to act on them. As a new benefit, PIP has barely emerged from the starting blocks but is already in deep trouble. The government needs to take urgent action to sort this mess out.