Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what updated guidance his Department has issued to personal independence payment (PIP) assessment providers to ensure that those assessors understand the impact and effect of contaminated blood on claimants, and what monitoring his Department has undertaken of the outcomes of PIP assessments since the review of haemarthropathy cases to ensure the effectiveness of that guidance.

The Department is committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to live independently and we recognise the contribution that PIP can make to this. During meetings with the DWP Working Group with individuals affected by contaminated blood, concerns were raised about people affected by contaminated blood scoring nil or low points for PIP, and members were invited to share any such cases for review. After reviewing all of the cases received, a problem with how the functional needs of claimants with haemarthropathy had been assessed for PIP was identified.

On the 25th June 2018 the Department began an administrative exercise to review cases of claimants with contaminated blood where they have haemophilia or haemarthropathy from other causes, to ensure claimants receive the correct award. To date 370 cases have been reviewed. All claimants have now been notified, completing the original exercise.

In conjunction with this administrative exercise the Department along with PIP assessment providers have developed new guidance on haemophilia and haemarthropathy to ensure health professionals appropriately assess such cases. This guidance was fully implemented on 15th February 2019 and the Department will now be reviewing a second batch of recent cases, assessed between the end of the original exercise and the implementation of the guidance.

Additionally, Assessment Providers and stakeholders are working together to develop reports for haemophilia and contaminated blood. These reports are completed by groups which represent individuals with specific health conditions and impairments. They are intended to provide insight regarding the daily life and everyday challenges which individuals with these conditions may face to further support health professionals in future assessments.

The Department is committed to supporting individuals effected by contaminated blood and continues to work closely with the DWP Working Group to ensure we fully support our claimants and make improvements where possible.