Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the suitability of the application process for personal independence payments for applicants with agoraphobia.

Claimants with a severe mental health or behavioural condition, learning disability, developmental disorder or cognitive problems can be provided with additional support during the claims process. This support can include help filling in the form or the questionnaire and additional protections for failing to return the questionnaire or for failing to attend a face-to-face assessment.

Before attending a face-to-face consultation, claimants will be given the opportunity to alert their assessment provider of any additional requirements they may have, and the providers will meet any such reasonable requests. Claimants identified as being vulnerable (i.e. having mental health or learning disabilities) can access additional support at any point in the claim or assessment process.