Personal Independence Payments Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions
Tuesday 28th February 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Green Portrait Damian Green
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On this issue, yes. As I have already pointed out, nobody is losing any benefit originally awarded to them by the DWP. That is the fact that most needs to be conveyed to those receiving the benefit.

Will Quince Portrait Will Quince (Colchester) (Con)
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I read the media reports on this change with some alarm, until I read into the detail of the regulations. To that end, will the Secretary of State confirm my understanding that far more people with mental health issues will be eligible for PIP than were ever eligible for the old DLA?

Damian Green Portrait Damian Green
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Yes, my hon. Friend makes a correct point, and one that I have made several times in the past few minutes. PIP is a better benefit than DLA for several reasons, perhaps the most important being that it is more available to those with mental health conditions. It always has been. The rules we are putting in place will make sure that it continues to be.