Rogers Rants - Part 16

Rogers Rants

Saw a client the other week about claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP to you and me) which is taking over from Disability Living Allowance (DLA). As you might have heard in the news, PIP is a lot harder to get and some of the most seemingly eligible people are being turned away. 

People in wheelchairs, those with sight problems, those with autism. 

When the first claim is rejected you have to ask for it to be looked at again. After the second rejection, it’s appeal time. This is where around 70% of case decisions are overturned, and people finally get the award. 

This is a very time-consuming and stressful process for claimants, especially when they’ve been told their DLA was for life. Not only this, but it is expensive for the Department for Work and Pensions. It would save their own time and money if the initial assessment was reviewed. It seems that the original assessor is somehow not picking up on the client’s – sometimes obvious – symptoms and distress.  

PIP is our number 1 benefits query, and likely it is for other CABs and disability organisations. Think how much time and stress we’d all save if PIP was improved. It is being called for in government, but not enough change has happened yet.