DWP silent on which conditions will no longer qualify for PIP in disability benefits crackdown

A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister has refused to say which conditions will not longer qualify for PIP after in a disability benefits crackdown. DWP Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said the proposals aimed at providing a "fair and compassionate" system with "bespoke" support.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Alison McGovern, said: “In recent weeks, the Secretary of State has decided to speak out of both sides of his mouth. On the one hand he says ‘I am grateful for today’s more open approach to mental health’, and with the same breath he tells us ‘there is danger that this has gone too far’.

"He wants it both ways, he thinks that openness about mental health is good but then says the very thing that brings back the stigma. Every time (Mr Stride) speaks, he makes it less likely that people will be open about their mental health.” Ms Govern added: “He says some health conditions can be taken out of Pip assessments, which conditions are we talking about?”

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Mr Stride said that Ms McGovern's concerns would be raised in the consultation. He previously suggested to the Times that people with "milder health conditions" would no longer receive financial support. and said in the Commons: “I think we should explore whether that approach we have at the moment is the best one in terms of outcomes.

"We have much to learn from the experiences of other countries around the world who have a similar benefit but go about the organisation and application of that benefit in a different way. New Zealand, for example, does indeed make payments based on invoices submitted for equipment by those who are receiving the benefit; Norway, for example doesn’t have assessments in the way that we do, they rely more on medical evidence provided by medical practitioners.”