Oral Answers to Questions

John Grogan Excerpts

Monday 13th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[John Grogan (Keighley) (Lab)]

9. What proportion of people with Parkinson’s disease who were receiving disability living allowance were not granted a personal independence payment.

[The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah Newton)]

Up to October 2016, 7% had been disallowed personal independence payment, but 45% of claimants with Parkinson’s disease actually receive a higher award under PIP than they did previously.

[John Grogan]

Would it not save a lot of time, money and distress if all those on the higher rate of disability living allowance with degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s were transferred automatically on to personal independence payment? How many people with Parkinson’s are currently in the “no review” category?

[Sarah Newton]

It is absolutely right that we get PIP right for everybody with a disability, including those with degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. It is absolutely right to notice, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did earlier, that considering that more than 2.6 million PIP assessments have been made, less than 1% have resulted in a complaint. Most of the time, this benefit is got right the first time. Of course, we work tirelessly, including with our stakeholders and voluntary sector organisations, to make improvements.