Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the length of the timeframe for mandatory reconsideration during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DWP is continuing to process Mandatory Reconsiderations during the current Covid-19 pandemic and is aiming to avoid delay where possible.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the application process for personal independent payments for applicants that are homeless and do not have access to (a) a telephone and (b) IT facilities .
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
A claim to PIP can be made via a freephone telephone number by a 3rd party on behalf of the customer as long as they are present at the time of the call. This can be done through a number of support organisations or agencies, that are free to use, such as Citizens Advice.
It is likely that the individual would already be working with or have been signposted to the Local Jobcentre Plus network and there is provision within JCP to support and access telephony within the JCP to make a claim to PIP.
If the claimant is without a correspondence address or a fixed abode, the telephony agent will advise the claimant that letters can be sent to a local Jobcentre. The telephony agent will then assist the claimant to identify the address of a local Jobcentre.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the suitability of the application process for personal independent payments for people with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Claimants with a severe mental health or behavioural condition, learning disability, developmental disorder or cognitive problems can be provided with additional support during the claims process. This support can include help filling in the form or the questionnaire and additional protections for failing to return the questionnaire or for failing to attend a face-to-face assessment.
Before attending a face-to-face consultation, claimants will be given the opportunity to alert their assessment provider of any additional requirements they may have, and the providers will meet any such reasonable requests. Claimants identified as being vulnerable (i.e. having mental health or learning disabilities) can access additional support at any point in the claim or assessment process.
Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the suitability of the application process for personal independence payements for people with a learning disability.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Claimants with a severe mental health or behavioural condition, learning disability, developmental disorder or cognitive problems can be provided with additional support during the claims process. This support can include help filling in the form or the questionnaire and additional protections for failing to return the questionnaire or for failing to attend a face-to-face assessment.
Before attending a face-to-face consultation, claimants will be given the opportunity to alert their assessment provider of any additional requirements they may have, and the providers will meet any such reasonable requests. Claimants identified as being vulnerable (i.e. having mental health or learning disabilities) can access additional support at any point in the claim or assessment process.