Asked by: Lord Rooker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made special arrangements for people with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome who are transferring from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payments.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
All existing Disability Living Allowance claimants who were aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013, or who reach age 16 thereafter, are being invited to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP). With the exception of those claiming under the special provisions for people who are terminally ill, all claims to PIP are treated in the same way and are subject to an assessment of needs to determine entitlement and the correct rate to pay benefit.
Most people will be asked to attend a face-to-face consultation with a trained independent assessor. However, we recognise that attending a face-to-face assessment can be a stressful experience for some people, which is why we do not carry out face-to-face consultations where there is enough existing evidence to determine benefit entitlement. Furthermore, where a face-to-face consultation is required, that can take place in a claimant’s home if they are unable to travel to an assessment centre. We and our Assessment Providers also encourage claimants to bring another person with them to consultations where they would find this helpful to, for example, reassure them or to help them during the consultation.