Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to amend the Personal Independence Payment assessment system by reducing the number of documents required.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is aimed at supporting people, who have a long-term physical or mental health condition, with extra disability-related costs. Entitlement is based on how the condition affects mobility and daily living needs, rather than the condition itself.

There are currently no specific document requirements, other than the evidence gather questionnaire (PIP2), so we cannot reduce the number of documents required.

We do, however, encourage claimants to provide supporting evidence/documentation to help DWP better understand claimant needs and how their condition or disability affects or restricts their ability to carry out various activities.

There are no plans to change this, but we do appreciate that some claimants can find it challenging so flexibility is applied:

• Where more time is needed to gather additional evidence/documentation, claimants can contact the PIP Helpline and request an extension.

• Where it might take a while to collect evidence/documentation, this can be sent separately, after the questionnaire has been submitted, and will be included in the assessment.

• Where claimants simply cannot obtain, attach or send documents, Assessors can ask supplementary questions during the consultation or request further medical evidence where necessary or appropriate.