Over 1500 win benefits appeal

More than half of all North Lanarkshire residents who have appealed against a decision to deny them benefits won their case.

Since 2013, 1680 people – 59 per cent of all to have lodged appeals against decisions to refuse Personal Independence Payments – were successful.

PIP is replacing Disability Living Allowance and claimants have to undergo assessments conducted by private companies hired by the Department of Work and Pensions.

The figures for North Lanarkshire were contained in information released by the DWP.

Kinga Kosakowska, executive manager of Motherwell & Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau, said:“the high percentage of successful appeals is not surprising and is indicative that the current system is not working for people impacted by ill health. What these figures don’t capture, is the significant amount of people who don’t appeal incorrect decisions.

“The reasons for this can include lack of understanding of the appeals process; lack of awareness of the support available to challenge decisions; fear of losing existing benefits; poor health; worry that the stress of the appeals process may further impact health. We would encourage everyone who feels they have been turned down for PIP unfairly, to seek support from their local CAB or North Lanarkshire Council who will support and advise how to proceed.”

The DWP says that since PIP was introduced, 3.9 million decisions have been made up to December 2018 in Great Britain as a whole, of these 10 per cent have been appealed and five have been overturned.

Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland says that PIP is among the most common issues on which it gives advice, and that one of the biggest problems is that the assessment procedures are often unreliable in determining what social security support disabled people are entitled to.