MPs say the delays on disabled benefits are unacceptable
- 18 Mar
MPs have said that the wait time of six months or more is unacceptable for disabled and sick people waiting to find out if they are eligible for benefits due to government changes.
The Commons Work and Pensions Committee have said that these delays to decisions about the new personal independence payment were causing stress and uncertainty.
Claims for the new PIP, replacing the disability living allowance, began in April 2013 and are worth between £21-£134 a week, reports the BBC.
Most people applying for PIP have to have face-to-face assessments to determine their eligibility. This is carried out by private contractors Atos Healthcare and Capita Business Services.
A report by the National Audit Office last month found that claimants were waiting on average 107 days for decisions on their cases. Terminally ill patients were waiting around 28 days.
Labour MP Dame Anne Begg, who chairs the cross-party committee has said that the time it is taking in some cases is "completely unacceptable".
The MPS want the average time to process new cases to be reduced to 74 days and seven days for terminally ill people.
Dame Anne says: "It is vital that all disabled people, but especially the terminally ill, experience as little delay and stress as possible in making a claim. By the end of last year, decisions had been made in fewer than 20% of new claims submitted since April 2013. It is essential that the backlog is cleared before the limited natural reassessment of existing DLA claims is extended any further."
Macmillan Cancer Support have said that the time being taken in many cases was "appalling" and the government must agree to publish waiting times for decisions on a quarterly basis.
The introduction of PIP is just one in a series of welfare changes the government is undertaking in order to reduce the benefits bill and encourage greater self-reliance and incentives to work.
A spokesman for the DWP has said: "In some cases this end-to-end claims process is taking longer than the old system of Disability Living Allowance, which relied on a self-assessment form. We are working with providers to ensure that all the steps in the process are as smooth as they can be and the benefit is backdated so no-one is left out of pocket."
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
Image source: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/71078
Related articles
- 10 Sep
Young people with learning disabilities more likely to be abused
A group of children’s charities have said that young people with disabilities have the “same vulnerabilities” as all young people but face extra “barriers” to getting protection or support,...
- 07 Sep
Success for a disability sport programme
The programme ran for three weeks and included multi-sport camps at Aberdeen Sports Village, reports the Mearns Leader. Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education, Learning and Leisure Committee...
- 21 Jul
Hartlepool to open a disability centre
Work has begun on the Hartlepool Borough Council project which aims to provide the Centre for Independent Living on the site of the current Havelock Centre in Burbank, reports The Hartlepool Mail.It...
- 14 Jul
Reform for care of adults with learning disabilities criticised for being slow
Following the care home abuse scandal at Winterbourne, Sir Stephen Bubb headed a review into care home abuse, which was published in November, reports the BBC.England's chief nursing officer said...
- 18 Jun
Campaigners warn that people with disabilities are losing rights due to government cuts
Charities are concerned that the rights of people with learning disabilities to live independent lives are slipping due to government cuts to benefits and social care, reports the Guardian. A letter...
- 11 Jun
Concern over disability benefits following council change
On the 30th of June a £500m Independent Living Fund will be in the control of local authorities, leaving people fearing how the benefit allowance for disabled adults will be affected, reports the...
- 21 May
Victims of disability hate crime are being let down
Police, prosecutors and probations services have failed to bring in need change over the past two years, a report by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate has found, reports the BBC.The CPS, police and...
- 08 May
New initiative to support young people with disabilities
Liberty Staffordshire Community Interest Company have been developed to maximise opportunities for young people due to growing concern they could be left isolated following the withdrawal of...
- 05 May
How technology is helping people with disabilities
At the exhibit people presented all-terrain wheelchairs, adapted smartphone for people whose fingers can't cope with normal devices, wheelchairs that allow the user to become level with the people...
- 01 May
Charities call for action on accessible housing
Leonard Cheshire Disability charity has told The Yorkshire Post that the lack of housing which is accessible for people with disabilities must become and election issue and is calling for the...
The Welfare Reform Act: Universal Credit, Sheltered and Supported Housing The content was concise and to the point. The content was relevant to our service, and gave us a better us a better indication of were stand with upcoming changes. Rosie Kaur - Panahghar
