New benefit centre rules out PIP tests

NO PERMANENT VENUE FOR DISABLED CLAIMANTS

DISABLED people will not be able to have benefits assessments at a new centre in Bangor.

The facility at Canolfan Menai will not offer Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments, the DWP has confirmed.

PIP assessments are currently conducted at Storiel arts centre in Bangor.

This is a temporary venue set up after it was highlighted that some people faced a 140-mile round trip to get to Rhyl after the old benefits centre at Ty Menai in Bangor was closed in November.

Despite the arrival of a new assessment facility, PIP claimants will have to continue to make do without a permanent venue in Gwynedd, as the Canolfan Menai facility will only make provisions for Universal Credit, ESA, Industrial Injuries Benefit and Veterans UK.

The decision was confirmed by the Minister for Work and Pensions Baroness Stedman-Scott in response to a letter from Hywel Williams MP in which she said: “There are currently no plans to conduct PIP assessments from the new Bangor site.”

The MP for Arfon has been campaigning to secure a long-term, accessible site in Bangor to meet the needs of severely disabled and vulnerable local people after the centre was moved from Parc Menai to Rhyl without any consultation last year.

He said: “The Minister’s reply shows the Department of Work and Pension’s shocking disregard for the needs of severely disabled claimants in my constituency and across North West Wales.

“Consolidating benefit services at a centrally located accessible site in Bangor is progress.

“But to do so without provision for severely disabled PIP claimants who depend on accessibility and reliabletransport links is just plain wrong.

“The fact the UK government are slow to right this enduring injustice and discrimination against severely disabled people is a disgrace.

“Moving the PIP assessment centre out of the area without any warning was bad enough, but to now bring together benefit services all under one roof, yet excluding the needs of PIP claimants, is not only a missed opportunity but it also prolongs uncertainty for the most vulnerable.

“I will be seeking further discussions with the UK government to lobby for action on this basic injustice.

“It’s high time the DWP and Capita moved on this so that vulnerable people can get some certainty.”

A Capita spokesperson said: “In March, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions made the decision to suspend all face to face PIP assessments and move to telephone assessments for claimants.

“Consequently, all of our PIP assessment centres are closed. We will reopen them when it is safe to do so.”