Benefits system criticised over high rate of successful appeals

ALMOST two thirds of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals heard in the second half of last year were successful, figures have revealed.

The high rate of successful appeals has sparked criticism that the benefits system is “fundamentally flawed”.

PIP benefits were introduced in Northern Ireland back in 2016 as part of welfare reforms brought in by the Conservative government, replacing the disability living allowance (DLA).

Hundreds of millions each year is paid out by Stormont’s Department for Communities (DFC) under the system, but there have been ongoing complaints about the medical assessments process and how long decisions take.

After an assessment is carried out upon applying for PIP, a case manager considers all the information provided, including advice from a health assessor.

The case manager then makes a decision on the claim and writes to the applicant detailing an explanation of how it was made. Applicants can appeal decisions they are unsatisfied with.

PIP appeal hearings have been impacted by the Covid pandemic, although there were still 1,167 from July 1 to December 31 last year.

Of 577 paper hearings, 235 were successful and 169 were unsuccessful, while 173 were either adjourned or withdrawn.

Looking at the 590 oral hearings — carried out face-to-face, via video or by telephone — 212 were successful and 90 were unsuccessful. Some 288 were adjourned or withdrawn.

This means that, of the combined 706 appeal hearings that went ahead, 259 were rejected — some 37%. Mark H Durkan, a member of Stormont’s Communities Committee, said the figures are “clear evidence” that criticisms of the PIP assessment process “are not unfounded”.

“The high levels of successful appeals is evidence that the benefits system is broken,” the SDLP MLA added.

“This comes at the cost to the public purse of conducting and processing appeals, which is concerning.

“However, what is more concerning is the anguish, anxiety and inconvenience it causes applicants.”

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the fact that almost two-thirds of PIP appeals were successful shows that there is a “fundamental fault with the current system”.

He branded the current welfare system “unfair, set up to sanction people and discourage them from accessing benefits that they should be entitled to”.

Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen, who also sits on the Communities Committee, said that given the number of cases that were successful on appeal, the question of “why the system didn’t get it right the first time” must be asked.

He added: “How much additional stress and financial hardship did the appeals process place on those who had the initial

‘Why did the system not get it right the first time?’

decision overturned?”

Mr Allen said “even more concerning” is the number of cases that were adjourned or withdrawn.

“How many of those who withdrew did so because they could not deal with the stress of the appeals process — are the Department actively assessing this?” he asked.

DFC said: “Whilst the Appeals Service is responsible for listing appeals before an independent tribunal panel, it is a judicial function to hear and determine the outcome of an appeal. Therefore the Department cannot comment on the outcome of appeals.”