Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to include provision to consider mental health issues on the personal independence payments assessment form; and if he will make a statement.

The assessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) looks at an individual’s ability to carry out a series of everyday activities. The assessment considers the overall impact of a claimant’s health condition or impairment on their functional ability, rather than focusing on a particular diagnosis. Therefore the PIP assessment forms that underpin the assessment include provision to consider mental health issues as well as physical issues.

66% of PIP recipients with mental health conditions get the enhanced rate daily living component, compared with 22% who received the highest DLA care component. And 31% of PIP recipients with mental health conditions get the enhanced rate mobility rate, compared with just 10% of DLA recipients.