Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to update Personal Independence Payment application forms to ask whether applicants are veterans; and if she will meet the hon. Member for Swindon North to discuss the potential merits of (a) data collection and (b) tailored support for veterans.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim forms do not ask for an individual’s occupation, past or present as it is legally immaterial to the decision to award benefit or not. PIP is based on the daily living and mobility needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability.

We do not currently have plans to update the PIP forms.

The honourable member is welcome to write to me to set out the potential merits of the changes he envisages, including the case for a meeting to discuss them.