FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21 January 2015
Teresa Pearce MP highlights serious flaws in PIP
process during Westminster Hall Debate
Teresa Pearce MP today outlined her serious concerns about the Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
process during the Westminster Hall Debate she secured on this issue.
PIP is a benefit for people aged 16 – 64 with long-term conditions or disabilities, and is intended to provide
them with the support they need to live independently. It was the subject of an independent review,
published in December 2014, which recognised some of the severe flaws and failures of the new system.
During her speech, Teresa spoke about the impact the huge backlog and delays in processing are having on
claimants. She highlighted the fact that claimants are not being kept fully-informed of the progress of their
claims, and that some people are having to wait over a year for a home assessment at a time when they
are most vulnerable and ill-equipped to cope. She spoke about the need for clarification of the reason for
interventions – reassessing people before their award has expired – and for the Department for Work &
Pensions (DWP) to address these issues urgently.
Following her speech, Teresa put a number of questions to the Minister for Disabled People, Mark Harper,
specifically asking him what action the DWP proposed to take to improve communication with claimants,
and to make the evidence-gathering process more effective.
Following the debate, Teresa Pearce MP said:
“It is vital that the DWP takes on board the recommendations made by the independent review and
take action to urgently address the serious flaws in the PIP process.
The delays and backlogs in claims are causing a great threat to the physical and mental well-being
of thousands of people, and this cannot continue. I am contacted regularly by constituents who
have either not been informed about the progress of their claim, or have been waiting six months
to a year to receive a home assessment. It is unacceptable that people – people who need help –
are being denied support.
Whilst the Minister says he is spending a lot of time trying to resolve the issue of delays, the fact is
that they should never have occurred in the first place. Proper, effective implementation would
have ensured that this was avoided. Unfortunately, poor planning and management has caused a
lot of people anxiety and worry. In many cases it has undoubtedly led to the worsening of their
conditions.
The Minister said that the DWP will, next week, publish information on the number of PIP claims
processed. I look forward to the publication of this information and to questioning the Minister
further when he appears before the Work & Pensions Select Committee next week.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
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Teresa’s Westminster Hall Debate, titled Implications of the ‘Implications of the independent
review of Personal Independence Payments,’ took place on Wednesday 21st January 2015 at 9:30 –
11am.
Photo attached of Teresa during the Westminster Hall Debate.
The Hansard Report of Teresa’s speech can be viewed here:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commonsdebates/read/unknown/190/.
The report, ‘An Independent Review of the Personal Independence Payment Assessment,’ can be
read here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commonsdebates/read/unknown/190/.
For further information, please contact Teresa’s Senior Parliamentary Researcher, Abigail O’Reilly,
on 0207 219 6936, or Abigail.oreilly@parliament.uk.