Concerns have been raised about plans to change for Universal Credit works to align it with the main disability benefit, PIP (Personal Independence Payment).
Poverty charity Z2K has urged the Government to reverse plans to scrap the Work Capability Assessment for Universal Credit with the assessment for PIP, warning the PIP assessment is already a “deeply flawed assessment process”.
The assessment process involves looks at what support a person needs to carry out daily tasks and to move around, such as if they need help from another person or extra equipment.
A new way to do the assessments was recently trialled, where claimants’ assessments were looked at by healthcare professionals with an expertise in their condition.
The DWP siad this change would “provide an enhanced understanding of the impact of long-term health conditions on what a claimant can do”.
Under the new proposals, work coaches in Jobcentres would decide how much effort a person is making into trying to find a job, and their benefits could be sanctioned if they are deemed to not be trying hard enough.
There would be exceptions from these rules for some people such as those being treated for cancer or those with a terminal illness.
Z2K also criticised this move to give work coaches the decision over how much effort a claimant should make, as making a “lottery for sanctions”.
PIP consists of a daily living part and a mobility part, with a lower and higher rate for each element depending on the level of a person’s needs.
These are the current payment rates:
Daily living part
- Lower – £68.10
- Higher – £101.75.
Mobility part
- Lower – £26.90
- Higher – £71.
If a person disagrees with a decision about their claim, they can asked for it to be reconsidered through a process called manadatory reconsideration.
PIP is being replaced in Scotland by Adult Disability Payment, which has the same payment rates and qualifying medical conditions.
The devolved benefit is administered by Social Security Scotland.
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