Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of personal independence payment awards for (a) blind and (b) sight impaired applicants; and if he will make a statement.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) ensures we target support on those with the greatest barriers to living an independent life. PIP is working better for those with a visual impairment compared to the previous benefit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Under DLA, 5% of all those with a visual impairment were receiving the top level of support¹ [the footnote explains that this is May 2013], whereas 62% of PIP recipients receive the highest rates as at the end of October 2017.”

Of those visually impaired DLA claimants who were aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013 and have been reassessed for PIP up to the end of October 2017, 66% are now getting a higher award than they received under DLA and the average weekly PIP award is £116.95 compared to £73.10 under DLA.

Notes:

DLA and PIP data taken from Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk)