Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provisions are made for assessing people with aphasia following stroke when claiming personal independence payments (PIP); what the exceptional criteria are for issuing PIP paper claim forms; and how many PIP1 paper claim forms have been (a) requested and (b) issued.

Where it is clear from their questionaire or from medical evidence that an individual who is making a claim for PIP has aphasia, the health professional will advise on the level of relevant functional loss on a paper basis wherever possible. Where a face-to-face consultation is required, claimants are encouraged to bring another person with them where they would find this helpful.

In exceptional circumstances, where a claimant is unable to deal with the Department by telephone and has no one to help them make the telephone call, claimants can request a paper version of the initial claim form. Additionally we can offer a home visit. The Department does not collect details of the number of requested or issued paper claim forms.