The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Maria Miller)
Personal independence payment will replace disability living allowance for people of working age from April 2013. The coalition Government are committed to supporting disabled people to lead independent lives and exercise choice and control. Personal independence payment will focus support to those individuals experiencing the greatest barriers to living an independent life, while ensuring the benefit remains sustainable.
Parliamentary approval for resource and capital of £0.65 billion for this new service has been sought in the main estimate 2011-12 for the Department for Work and Pensions. Pending approval of the Welfare Reform Bill, urgent expenditure estimated at £5,014,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund. The advance will be repaid at the earliest opportunity following Royal Assent to the Welfare Reform Bill.