’SENSELESS’ WALKING TEST COSTS NHS £8m A YEAR

Charity insist MS sufferers are worse off

A “SENSELESS” benefits test is costing the NHS almost £8million a year as a result of extra GP appointments or A&E visits, a charity claim.

The MS Society have hit out at a rule which can stop people able to walk more than 20 metres from claiming the higher rate of mobility support under the personal independence payment (PIP).

And the charity – who support people with multiple sclerosis – have called for it to be scrapped.

They say that under the previous benefit – disability living allowance (DLA), which had a 50-metre test – 94 per cent of claimants with MS qualified for the higher rate of support but just 66 per cent do under PIP.

As a knock-on effect, MS sufferers were forced to make increased use of NHS services, they say.

The MS Society’s Genevieve Edwards said: “Contrary to the Government’s insistence that PIP is meant to help those with the greatest needs, the truth is it’s causing enormous harm to people with MS, with many losing their independence as a result.

“This senseless and unfounded rule is leading to people with the highest need facing the biggest losses, and costing our NHS at least an extra £7.7million each year.”

A survey of 1234 people with MS found 39 per cent had increased their use of GP services since the change and 30 per cent claimed they had been forced to cut back on spending on treatment or therapies.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman insisted PIP is a fairer benefit. He added: “A higher proportion of people with MS receive the highest possible award under PIP than under DLA.”