Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people with multiple sclerosis in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland and (c) Wales are no longer eligible for the higher rate of mobility support as a result of the transition from disability living allowance in each year since the introduction of personal independence payment.

The Northern Irish Assembly has devolved responsibility for social security benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Information regarding PIP in Northern Ireland is therefore the responsibility of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

The table below shows, for Scotland and Wales, the number and proportion of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants with a primary disability of Multiple Sclerosis who received the highest rate of Mobility under DLA but who did not receive the enhanced mobility award after reassessment to PIP. This data includes claimants who were disallowed pre-referral, who withdrew their claim and who were disallowed at assessment.

We’re committed to ensuring that disabled people get the full support that they need, and under PIP 52% of people with MS receive the highest possible award, compared with 39% under the previous benefit DLA. May 2013 is chosen for comparison as this is the last month with a full DLA caseload prior to claimants being reassessed from DLA to PIP.

Table 1: PIP mobility awards for reassessment claimants with Multiple Sclerosis who had previously received the highest rate of Mobility award under DLA (by year of DWP decision)

Source: PIP ADS

Notes:

• PIP Reassessment outcome shows the outcome of the first DWP decision on each reassessment claim (i.e. they reflect outcomes prior to any reconsideration, appeal action and award review), where that decision was made between 8^th April 2013 and 31^st October 2018.
• Figures exclude ‘rising 16s and claimants who did not respond to the invitation. Rising 16s are claimants who reach 16 years of age and so cease to be eligible for Disability Living Allowance but may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment.
• Figures include reassessment outcomes for individuals who were aged between 16 and 64 on 8^th April 2013, and include both PIP Normal Rules and Special Rules for the Terminally Ill claims.
• Totals have been rounded to the nearest 10 and may not sum due to rounding.
• Percentages are calculated using actual figures rather than rounded figures and have been rounded to the nearest 1%
• This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.
• Data is based on main disabling condition as recorded on the DLA computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.