Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria are employed to assess applicants for personal independent payments (PIPs); and what steps are being taken to ensure that those in need do not lose access to the payment following the switchover from disability living allowance to PIPs.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to focus support on those individuals who experience the greatest barriers to living an independent life. Entitlement to PIP is primarily assessed by reference to a claimant’s ability to carry out daily living activities or mobility activities. The PIP Handbook (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/348736/pip-handbook-aug-14.pdf) provides greater detail on the entitlement conditions and the assessment criteria.

Existing claimants of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) who were aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013, or who reach age 16 after that date, will be asked to claim PIP under programmes of natural and managed reassessment.
Such claimants will continue to receive DLA throughout the period their claim to PIP is being assessed so long as they comply with the claiming conditions. On determination of the PIP claim the claimant’s DLA will continue for a period of 4 weeks before the PIP decision takes effect.