Labour issues NEW update over DWP scrapping PIP cash payments for vouchers

A green paper from the former Conservative Party government wrapped up earlier this year.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


The Department for Work and Pensions has offered a key and crucial update over proposals for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) cash payments to be scrapped. A green paper from the former Conservative Party government wrapped up earlier this year.

SNP MP Chris Law reached out to Labour Party government minister Sir Stephen Timms in the Commons this week. He wanted "to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to implement the proposals outlined in the consultation entitled Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper, published in April 2024."

Mr Timms said: "The consultation on Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper ran for 12 weeks and closed on Monday 22 July. The Department received over 16,000 responses to the consultation. This demonstrates the depth of feeling about the previous Government’s proposals. I thank the British public, as well as the numerous charities and organisations who responded on behalf of their members, for the time and effort taken to share their thoughts and views.

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"Whilst engaging with responses, I can confirm that responses to the set of proposals on the reform of Personal Independence Payments was mixed and for some proposals consistently negative. We will be setting out our own plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do."

The cash payments could be scrapped for a catalogue/ shop scheme where there would be an approved list from which disabled people could choose items at reduced or no cost. This would likely work better for equipment and aids rather than for services.

In a voucher scheme, disabled people could receive vouchers to contribute towards specific costs. It could work for both equipment/aids and for services. A receipt-based system would involve claimants buying aids, appliances, or services themselves, and then providing proof of their purchase to claim back a contribution towards the cost.

There could also be one-off grants.