DWP 'refusing' to answer three questions over its disability benefits reform

The Department for Work and Pensions is "refusing" to answer three questions over its PIP reform. Disability News Service reports the DWP is "refusing to say how many disabled people it expects to lose their disability benefits". The DWP is also refusing to say how much they wanted to cut spending or claimant numbers.

The department also refused to say what, if any, evidence it provided to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of a television interview with ITV News in which he claimed that PIP assessments were “often easily exploited and subject to unverifiable claims”.

A DWP spokesperson said in a statement: “Fairness and compassion are at the heart of our welfare system. That’s why we want to update PIP’s ‘one size fits all’ approach, recognising that people’s needs vary. The consultation will look at how we can modernise PIP to better protect people with the most severe conditions and provide tailored support to help disabled people live fulfilled and independent lives.

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“We are inviting views from across society, including disabled people and representative organisations, so we can deliver the right support for disabled people and those with health conditions.” Helen Barnard, director of policy at the Trussell Trust, said: “Today’s suggestions on overhauling social security support for disabled people from the UK government look more like cost-cutting rhetorical flourishes than serious policy proposals.

“Precarious and badly paid work that leaves you uncertain week to week if you’ll be able to pay the bills doesn’t help anyone. We need a system built on compassion, because it’s clear and always has been that if you make people poorer and even more frightened, they’re much less likely to recover from physical or mental health challenges.

“We do have the tools to tackle this, but we need policymakers to engage seriously. We need tailored and voluntary employment support. We need faster access to mental health support. We need any reform to PIP to be faster, more accurate, and more compassionate. And vitally, we need to see the introduction of an essentials guarantee to ensure a minimum income floor for people in receipt of universal credit and other benefits so that they at least cover the cost of essentials.”