Mind calls for review as data shows thousands at risk of missing out on PIP
The Department for Work and Pensions is currently reviewing more than 1.6m personal independence payments (PIP) claims to identify people who are entitled to additional financial support, as a result of recent legal judgements about mental health and mobility.
According to statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions today, 0.8% of 440,000 claims reviewed have led to an increased award. This compares to an original estimate in 2017 that 14% of claims reviewed would see an increase. This estimate was cited multiple times before parliament and before the courts as part of the Government’s arguments about the changes. Mind is concerned that thousands of people with mental health problems may be missing out on vital support that they should be entitled to.
Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer, Ayaz Manji, said:
“We’re incredibly alarmed by the figures shown today. Personal Independence Payments are vital to the welfare and independence of so many disabled people, but we know that many people are missing out on the payments they so desperately need to live well.
“When the Government first estimated the impact of these changes on people receiving PIP they said that more than one in ten people would see an increase to their award. According to figures published today the reality has been that just 0.8% have seen their award increase so far.
“If this is due to an error in the way these numbers were estimated, this is an error of monumental proportions. There will be thousands of people with mental health problems who will rightly be worried that the Government have not upheld their commitment to review their claims fully and fairly. We need to see an independent investigation to understand what has gone wrong here and what action the Department for Work and Pensions needs to take to fix it.”
