PIP Back Payments

Gavin Newlands Excerpts
Tuesday 30th January 2018

(6 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sarah Newton Portrait Sarah Newton
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The hon. Gentleman exemplifies the important role of a Member of Parliament in supporting constituents through their casework. He might like to meet me about that case. It is by reviewing individual cases that we find out how we can make improvements. I reassure all Members that if a decision is overturned and the Department has made a mistake, we back pay people to the date from which they are eligible for the benefit.

Gavin Newlands Portrait Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
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We all want—at least I hope we all want—to make sure that all those in need get what they need to live, not just to exist. To that end, will the Minister confirm that the £3.7 billion that this is expected to cost will be an additional allocation from the Treasury and will not be found from existing DWP budgets?

Sarah Newton Portrait Sarah Newton
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The figure of £3.7 billion is an estimate of what this will cost. As we work through sorting out the problem, we will have a much better idea of the numbers, but I can absolutely assure the hon. Gentleman that we will not make savings in our Department to fund it.