Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

PIP Application Process

Monday 1 September 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions addressed issues related to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process on 2025-09-01.
  • A constituent with permanent right-side paralysis due to strokes expressed dissatisfaction with the current PIP reassessment process and appealed for reinstatement.
  • The Minister discussed plans to introduce a digital service for PIP applications by 2029, aiming for a simpler and easier-to-understand process.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anna Sabine Lib Dem Frome and East Somerset
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

A constituent in Anna Sabine's constituency suffered two strokes resulting in permanent right-side paralysis and ongoing mobility difficulties, requiring a reassessment of PIP despite her condition being permanent.

Question

In my constituency, I was contacted by a woman who had suffered two strokes, resulting in permanent right-side paralysis and ongoing mobility difficulties. Despite her condition being permanent, she has had to undergo reassessment for PIP and has appealed for it to be reinstated. Will the Minister clarify what steps the Government are taking to reduce the stress and difficulty of the PIP application process for people with those serious health conditions?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

The health transformation programme will allow the introduction of a modern digital service, which is certainly not how the existing arrangements could be characterised. It is a big job—the programme will run until 2029—but the outcome from it will be a process that is simpler and easier to understand, which I hope will reduce the stress to which the hon. Member has rightly drawn attention, with shorter decision times.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete steps or timeline for simplifying the PIP application process specifically for individuals with permanent disabilities.

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Q2 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

Rachael Maskell has been investigating the transition points between education and work for children with special educational needs and disabilities, highlighting existing challenges in this area.

Question

Over the summer, I have been doing a deep dive into children with special educational needs and disabilities, not least the transition points between education and work. As part of the Timms review—the Minister’s own review—will he ensure that that interface is looked at, so that there is a smooth transition for young people, as opposed to the cliff edges that many of them face when making the transition into work?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

The review will look specifically at the PIP assessment, but one proposal in our Green Paper published earlier this year was increasing the age of transition from DLA to PIP from 16 to 18. I think that that change could assist with the concern expressed by my hon. Friend.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Addressed the general review and a specific proposal but did not commit to examining the transition process in detail for young people with special educational needs.

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