DWP to review of PIP assessment process after claims of 'humiliation' of disabled claimants
Disabled people have reported agonizing waits for assessments and harsh treatment by assessors.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that it will be reviewing the assessment process for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) after widespread reports of disabled claimants being subjected to "humiliation" and "degrading" treatment.
The review will consider the following areas:
- The length of time it takes to complete an assessment
- The quality of the assessments
- The impact of the assessments on disabled people
DWP has come under fire in recent months over the way it assesses PIP claims. Disabled people have reported agonizing waits for assessments, with some waiting over a year for a decision. They have also reported being treated harshly by assessors, who have been accused of making assumptions about their disabilities and of not believing their accounts of their symptoms.
The review will be led by the Independent Case Examiner for DWP, Dr Stephen Lloyd. He will be joined by a panel of experts, including disabled people, health professionals, and social care professionals.
The review is expected to take around six months to complete. Once the review is complete, Dr Lloyd will make recommendations to DWP on how the assessment process can be improved.
The DWP has said that it is committed to ensuring that the PIP assessment process is fair and compassionate. It has said that it will work closely with disabled people and their representatives to ensure that the review is thorough and that the recommendations are implemented.
The PIP assessment process has been criticized by disability charities and MPs. In a recent report, the National Audit Office found that the DWP had failed to meet its own targets for processing PIP claims and that the quality of assessments was "variable".
The DWP has said that it is taking steps to improve the PIP assessment process. It has said that it will be increasing the number of assessors and that it will be providing them with more training.
The review of the PIP assessment process is a welcome step. It is important that the DWP listens to the concerns of disabled people and that it takes steps to improve the assessment process.
