Assessments for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are to be automatically recorded in the future as part of a bid to make the system fairer.
The controversial scheme, which was set up by the Coalition Government in 2013 to replace Disability Living Allowance, has attracted much anger from disability organisations and individuals because of the tight criteria for receiving it and inconsistencies in assessments
Recently the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee has completed a report on the system and received a Government response saying that from now on assessments should be recorded.
The resonse says: “The Department recognises that the complexity and potential costs of recording makes it difficult for claimants—of PIP especially—to record their assessment. It intends “to make recording the PIP assessment a standard part of the process”. The Department is “currently exploring potential options to test the recording of assessments, including video recording.”
Responding to the Government’s decision, Committee Chairman Frank Field said: “Recording PIP assessments as standard is a tremendous step forward. The process relies on trust, and our inquiry found it sorely lacking. This move should go a long way to restoring trust and driving up the quality of assessments.
A commitment to improving the gruelling application forms is also very welcome, and clearly the Government has listened to the thousands of claimants who contributed to our work.
But the response falls short in several areas. For example, we think claimants should always receive their assessment reports without having to ask, and we are concerned that the Government lacks the levers to get value for money out of its private contractors.”
Read the committee report and the Government’s response in full.
