Thousands of disabled people face new checks for benefits
THOUSANDS of disabled people who suffer from progressively worsening conditions will face reassessment for their benefits this year, new figures show.
Campaigners and MPs are now demanding changes to stop those with such conditions being repeatedly reassessed to claim personal independence payments (PIP).
Between April and October, 3,500 people suffering progressive conditions rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease and motor neurone disease were reassessed for PIP, according to a written parliamentary question from Labour MP Madeleine Moon.
In 2015-16 2,400 people with these conditions were reassessed for PIP, according to the figures obtained by Ms Moon, compared with a total of 200 in the previous two years.
Ministers said award reviews ensured people were getting the right level of support, and that these reviews could see their payments increased.
But Phil Reynolds, policy and campaigns adviser at Parkinson’s UK, said the reassessment figures were “only the tip of the iceberg”.
He added: “The cost of these pointless and wasteful reassessments for Parkinson’s alone will be around £72,800.
“Recent figures show that around a quarter of people with Parkinson’s have lost some or all of their support following reassessment from disability living allowance (DLA).”
Similar concerns have been expressed by Laura Wetherly, policy manager for welfare and employment at the MS Society.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already scrapped assessments for the chronically ill every six months to qualify for employment and support allowance.
A DWP spokeswoman said: “Assessments are carried out by qualified health professionals who combine their clinical knowledge with an understanding of the fact that not everyone with the same disability is impacted in the same way.
“PIP is an interactive benefit, designed to ensure any changes in a claimant’s functional ability can be identified and that they receive the right support at the right time.”