SNP MP Carol Monaghan Challenges PIP Reassesments

SNP MP Carol Monaghan

Thousands of disabled people who suffer from progressively worsening conditions will face reassessment for their benefits this year, new figures show.

Campaigners and MPs are now demanding changes to stop those with such conditions being repeatedly reassessed to claim personal independence payments (PIP).

Between April and October, 3,500 people suffering progressive conditions rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease and motor neurone disease were reassessed for PIP, according to a written parliamentary question from Labour MP Madeleine Moon.

SNP MP Carol Monaghan said she was dealing with four cases in her constituency of people who suffer from MS being reassessed for PIP, despite their condition only getting progressively worse.

"MS is a progressive condition, they're never going to be any better than they are now, so they should never be asked to go for a re-assessment," she said.

"Some of these people are still able to walk to a certain extent, so they get themselves in just about, and then they're being told that 'you look fine'.

"That's like somebody ill going to a doctor and the doctor saying 'yeah, you're looking all right, I'm not going to bother doing any tests'.

But Phil Reynolds, policy and campaigns adviser at Parkinson's UK, said the reassessment figures were "only the tip of the iceberg".

He added: "The cost of these pointless and wasteful reassessments for Parkinson's alone will be around £72,800.

"Recent figures show that around a quarter of people with Parkinson's have lost some or all of their support following reassessment from disability living allowance (DLA).

"Many have won the right to receive this again when this has gone to appeal. This is unacceptable, and further highlights a shambolic assessment process.

"It's absolutely crucial that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) looks again at the broken PIP assessment to ensure people with long-term conditions get the support they so desperately need, rather than rigging the system against them."

A DWP spokesman said: "Under PIP, 27 percent of claimants are now receiving the highest rate of support, compared to 15 per cent under DLA, with a greater proportion of Parkinson's and MS claimants receiving the highest possible rates for daily living expenses.

"Assessments are carried out by qualified health professionals who combine their clinical knowledge with an understanding of the fact that not everyone with the same disability is impacted in the same way.