Personal Independence Payment 2025-06-23 (1)
2025-06-23
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent with epilepsy responded to the 'Pathways to Work' consultation, highlighting that PIP is viewed as a benefit offsetting disability costs rather than a pity payment. The constituent emphasized that without such support, disabled individuals are less able to live independently and pursue employment.
My constituent with epilepsy responded to the ‘Pathways to Work’ consultation, highlighting that the questions implied the Department views PIP as a pity payment instead of a benefit designed to offset disability costs like seizure alert devices or accessible transport. Without such support, disabled people are less able to live independently and seek employment. Does the Minister agree that cutting PIP payments pushes more disabled individuals further from living independently and gaining employment?
I do not recognise the attitude that the hon. Member describes—quite frankly, we feel precisely the opposite. This vital benefit makes a crucial contribution towards the extra costs of living with a disability. That is why we want to reform it to protect it for generations to come, because we do not think that it is sustainable to have a doubling of the number of people on PIP over this decade from 2 million to more than 4.3 million.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not directly address whether cutting PIP payments would push disabled individuals further from living independently and seeking employment.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The questioner visited PACT for Autism, a charity in Harlow raising concerns about the accessibility of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process for individuals with autism.
This morning, I had the pleasure of visiting PACT for Autism, a brilliant local charity in Harlow. It raised concerns about the accessibility of the PIP application process for those with autism. As the Department looks to reform the process, could that be considered?
I absolutely will consider that. In fact, I ask my hon. Friend and his constituents to feed into the work that my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disability is doing. We have to ensure that it is as easy and effective as possible to access that vital benefit.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy