PIP

Benefits and Poverty

Sign at entrance to Department for Work and Pensions

March 1, 2018 0

Mystery over shock fall in disability benefits paid to older people

“Astonishing” figures released by the government show that the number of older disabled people receiving benefits to help with their daily living costs has plummeted since 2011. The figures show that the number of recipients of attendance allowance (AA) has fallen from 1.6 million in August 2011 to 1.435 million in August 2017, a

Benefits and Poverty

February 22, 2018 0

‘Truly appalling’ revelations ‘show DWP is subverting justice’ at appeal tribunals

Listen

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officers who attend benefit appeal tribunals are being asked by their bosses how many high-level awards to disabled people they have been able to prevent. DWP has finally released information that shows that the presenting officers (POs) it sends to personal independence payment (PIP) appeals must report back

Transport

Andrew Knowlman in his wheelchair in front of a van with a woman behind him

February 22, 2018 0

Call for government to ditch ‘discriminatory’ PIP rules for NHS care home stays

Listen

Campaigners are calling on the government to scrap a policy that prevents disabled people with complex healthcare needs receiving the benefits they need to stay mobile if they are living in residential homes. Little-known regulations apparently state that recipients of NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) are not eligible to receive the mobility component of

Benefits and Poverty

February 15, 2018 0

Benefit assessment system undermined by culture of mistrust, say MPs

Listen

The disability benefit assessment system is being undermined by a “pervasive culture of mistrust”, fuelled by widespread claims that assessors are deliberately trying to prevent disabled people receiving the support they are entitled to, according to a committee of MPs. The long-awaited report by the Commons work and pensions committee describes how many claimants

Benefits and Poverty

Tracey Lazard sitting behind a table and holding a microphone

February 15, 2018 0

Benefit assessment report welcomed, but concern over ‘preventable harm’ failings

Listen

Disabled campaigners have welcomed a report by MPs on disability benefit assessments, which they say highlights “serious multiple failures”, but many believe it should have done more to highlight the serious “preventable harm” caused by the system. The report by the Commons work and pensions committee concludes that there is a “pervasive culture of

Benefits and Poverty

Stephen Lloyd in front of a sign for the Liberal Democrat conference

February 15, 2018 0

The PIP Files: Senior MP to write to minister over ‘devastating’ revelations

Listen

A senior opposition MP is to write to the minister for disabled people to ask how she plans to penalise government contractors Atos and Capita, following last week’s “devastating” revelations about their “shocking” failings in delivering disability benefit assessments. Stephen Lloyd, the work and pensions spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said last week’s revelations

Benefits and Poverty

February 15, 2018 0

Watchdog begins probe into failure of regulators to punish lying PIP assessors

Listen

A watchdog is examining the failure of two healthcare regulators to punish nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists who write dishonest benefit assessment reports. The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) is looking at concerns about the way regulators deal with complaints about nurses, physiotherapists and paramedics who carry out personal independence payment (PIP) assessments on behalf of

Benefits and Poverty

Sarah Newton speaking in Westminster Hall

February 8, 2018 0

The PIP Files: DWP documents show ‘absolutely shocking’ failure on further evidence

Listen

Outsourcing companies have been failing to request vital evidence from GPs and social workers that would help disabled people secure the benefits they are entitled to, confidential Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) documents have revealed. The “absolutely shocking” reports, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that Atos and Capita contacted health

Benefits and Poverty

February 8, 2018 0

The PIP Files: Data shows multiple complaints made against scores of Atos assessors

Listen

Scores of healthcare professionals may have been able to continue carrying out disability benefit assessments despite being the subject of multiple complaints about their behaviour, competence and honesty, confidential new documents have revealed. The official reports, prepared by outsourcing giants Capita and Atos for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), show that up

Benefits and Poverty

February 8, 2018 0

The PIP Files: Nearly one in three Capita assessments were flawed, reports reveal

Listen

Nearly one in three of the disability benefit assessment reports completed by a private sector contractor were significantly flawed, confidential Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) documents suggest. The figures were revealed through a government audit of personal independence payment (PIP) assessment reports that had been written by staff working for under-fire outsourcing giant

Browsing: PIP