Personal Independence Payments in England and Wales are 'not fit for purpose' and the assessment process can be 'dehumanising', according to an interim review led by the minister responsible for the benefit.
Sir Stephen Timms, the disability minister leading the review, told the BBC that disabled people had told the review the assessment can be 'demeaning' and a barrier to work. The interim report, published on Thursday, suggests a sweeping overhaul of the assessment system is needed.
“PIP benefit 'not fit for purpose' as review reveals dehumanising assessments and costs set to hit £41bn by 2030.”
The cost of PIP is expected to rise to more than £41bn by 2030. Sir Stephen said: 'My view is that the current level of spending is not a great concern. What would be a concern would be if it carried on going up forever more.' The sustainability of the rising cost would 'be a concern as we reach these decisions', he added.
Cheryl Fyfield, an autism awareness campaigner, said the assessment process needed to change. 'It can be really hard to even qualify for PIP, let alone go through the process if you do qualify every three years,' she said. 'I'm autistic, I'm going to be autistic my whole life, yet every three years I have to go through the gruelling process to be reassessed.'
Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately accused the government of being 'in denial about the seriousness of the situation of our welfare system and the fact that we have to make savings'.
Sir Stephen told the BBC that PIP 'does a very important job in helping people meet the additional costs of disability'. His final report with recommendations is due in the autumn. The interim report also highlights the steep increase in the number of PIP recipients in recent years and the forecast rise in spending.
