Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment claimants with epilepsy did not receive an award during their initial assessment or mandatory reconsideration and were subsequently granted an award before their case was heard at tribunal.
Since the introduction of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) there have been a total of 14,020 decisions on all claims (new claims and reassessments) with an epilepsy condition listed as the main health condition. Of these 3,980 claimants received no benefit after an initial decision and no benefit after the mandatory reconsideration stage. 1,710 of these people subsequently appealed their decision and 100 cases were settled in favour of the claimant before the case reached the tribunal hearing.
Under PIP, 29 per cent of working age claimants with epilepsy recorded as their primary disabling condition receive the highest level of support compared to 6 per cent under Disability Living Allowance when PIP was introduced.
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