Thank you for contacting me about the Personal Independence Payment Assessment.
The former Government published the Modernising Support for Independent Living Green Paper outlining reforms that could be made to the PIP system, including looking at the PIP assessment. These ideas included removing the PIP assessment for people with certain long-term health conditions or disabilities and, in doing so, reduce bureaucracy for those most in need of support. This came alongside an ambition to reform the current assessment to link it more closely to a person’s condition.
It is clear that the disability benefits system isn’t working in the way it was intended and it needs reform to make it sustainable for the future. The UK’s health landscape has changed, exploring such reforms can help us design a welfare system that is fit for the future whilst being fair to the taxpayer.
Future changes to Personal Independent Payment Assessment and disability benefits more generally are now the responsibility of the current Government. Whilst it has been indicated that reform is on its way, through the Government's 'Get Britain Working' White Paper, we await detailed proposals. I will always push for changes to our welfare system that actively encourage those who can work to do so, whilst also ensuring that there is a fair safety net to support the most vulnerable in our communities.
I look forward to scrutinising the Government's proposals when they are published.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.