DWP PIP claimants to choose from an ‘approved list’ instead of regular payments

The Government published its overhaul plans this week

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants would have to choose from an “approved list” of items under the Government’s disability benefit overhaul.

Earlier this week, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published its “Modernising Support Green Paper” which detailed the potential changes it could make to the disability benefit PIP. One of the most controversial ideas was to scrap regular PIP payments and replace them with one off grants or vouchers.

The DWP’s Green Paper said handing cash payments to people on disability benefits was “compensation for being disabled”. It added: “We also know that some disabled people view their PIP award as compensation for being disabled rather than as an award for extra costs.”

Another one of the proposals put forward was a “catalogue scheme”. This would be an “approved list” of support items such as working aids and equipment which claimants could choose to get at “reduced or no cost”. The paper stated: “Catalogue/ shop scheme: in this kind of scheme, there would be an approved list from which disabled people could choose items at reduced or no cost. This would likely work better for equipment and aids rather than for services.”

Introduced in 2013, PIP is the main disability benefit for UK adults with long term medical conditions and disabilities. PIP isn’t means tested and you claim the benefit even if you are working. The initial aim with PIP was to support claimants with the extra costs a disability can have. How much people get depends on how difficult they find everyday tasks and getting around with the maximum weekly payment sitting at £184.30, or £9,583.60 a year.

In a speech made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he wanted to end the UK’s so-called “sick note generation” adding that the current “one size fits all” disability benefit system needed reform. The Government said PIP spending is set to grow 63% to £35billion in the next five years. The Government blamed the rise in expenditure on rising claims for people with mental health conditions.

The consultation is now open for 12-weeks and businesses, groups, organisations and individuals can provide feedback on how the proposals would affect people. This consultation closes on July 23.