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| PIPs: What next for benefit claimants? | PIPs: What next for benefit claimants? |
| (1 day later) | |
| Every person receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is to have their claim reviewed. | Every person receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is to have their claim reviewed. |
| This follows a decision by the Department for Work and Pensions not to challenge a court ruling saying changes to PIP - which limited the support received by people with mental health conditions - were unfair. | This follows a decision by the Department for Work and Pensions not to challenge a court ruling saying changes to PIP - which limited the support received by people with mental health conditions - were unfair. |
| Three people tell us their feelings about the review and what impact a change to their claims could have on their lives. | Three people tell us their feelings about the review and what impact a change to their claims could have on their lives. |
| Vicky Smith lives in Newcastle upon Tyne. She has ulcerative colitis and wears a stoma. Dealing with excruciating pain on a daily basis, means that she's sometimes bedridden. | Vicky Smith lives in Newcastle upon Tyne. She has ulcerative colitis and wears a stoma. Dealing with excruciating pain on a daily basis, means that she's sometimes bedridden. |
| Vicky originally received the old Disability Living Allowance at a higher rate. This also included a Motability vehicle. | Vicky originally received the old Disability Living Allowance at a higher rate. This also included a Motability vehicle. |
| Everything changed when PIP was introduced and she was sent for an assessment. | Everything changed when PIP was introduced and she was sent for an assessment. |
| "The assessor ruled that because most of my 'issues' were caused by mental health problems I didn't meet the criteria for the higher rate of PIP," she says. | "The assessor ruled that because most of my 'issues' were caused by mental health problems I didn't meet the criteria for the higher rate of PIP," she says. |
| "I had to hand back my vehicle which I relied on greatly and accept a drop in support from payments". | "I had to hand back my vehicle which I relied on greatly and accept a drop in support from payments". |
| An appeal left Vicky feeling distraught and embarrassed. | An appeal left Vicky feeling distraught and embarrassed. |
| "I felt like my mental health was irrelevant. I was made to feel like I was being a burden to the system. | "I felt like my mental health was irrelevant. I was made to feel like I was being a burden to the system. |
| "I had even supplied letters from my GP, health psychologist and consultants which stated I depended on my vehicle and I was not fit to return to work. | "I had even supplied letters from my GP, health psychologist and consultants which stated I depended on my vehicle and I was not fit to return to work. |
| "It didn't help that the process was carried out by non-medical staff. How can someone with no medical training decide I simply don't meet the relevant criteria and therefore will not be awarded the amount of points needed to be awarded the higher-rate mobility?" | "It didn't help that the process was carried out by non-medical staff. How can someone with no medical training decide I simply don't meet the relevant criteria and therefore will not be awarded the amount of points needed to be awarded the higher-rate mobility?" |
| However, Vicky is cautiously optimistic about the proposed review: "I hope this will help those who have been wrongly assessed like myself. | However, Vicky is cautiously optimistic about the proposed review: "I hope this will help those who have been wrongly assessed like myself. |
| "Maybe, just maybe, we'll get back what we are rightly entitled to!" | "Maybe, just maybe, we'll get back what we are rightly entitled to!" |
| Dean Mahon lives in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales. He has received the higher rate of PIP since 2016 after being medically discharged from the army. | Dean Mahon lives in Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales. He has received the higher rate of PIP since 2016 after being medically discharged from the army. |
| He suffered a broken back and was also diagnosed with with post-traumatic stress disorder. | He suffered a broken back and was also diagnosed with with post-traumatic stress disorder. |
| Even with those injuries, it was difficult to make a claim. | Even with those injuries, it was difficult to make a claim. |
| "PIP is notoriously difficult to get in the first place and re-assessments are always at the forefront of your mind," he says. | "PIP is notoriously difficult to get in the first place and re-assessments are always at the forefront of your mind," he says. |
| Dean was originally told that his case would be reviewed in 2020. Although it's still a couple of years away, it's already making him anxious. | |
| "It's humiliating and you get the feeling the government don't know what they're doing." | "It's humiliating and you get the feeling the government don't know what they're doing." |
| You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
| Sue Doughty lives in Twyford, Berkshire. She has multiple sclerosis. | |
| Like Vicky, Sue originally received Disability Living Allowance, but when that changed to PIP, Sue's benefit was cancelled. | Like Vicky, Sue originally received Disability Living Allowance, but when that changed to PIP, Sue's benefit was cancelled. |
| She faced homelessness and had to rely on help from her daughter. | She faced homelessness and had to rely on help from her daughter. |
| Following a year spent in appeal, the Court of Tribunal awarded Sue PIP ongoing for life. | Following a year spent in appeal, the Court of Tribunal awarded Sue PIP ongoing for life. |
| "After a year of assessment and processing involving a nightmare of financial risk, I finally got a mean and begrudging written assurance from the DWP," she says. | "After a year of assessment and processing involving a nightmare of financial risk, I finally got a mean and begrudging written assurance from the DWP," she says. |
| "I don't ever want to go through that again." | "I don't ever want to go through that again." |
| News that everyone on PIP will have their claim reviewed has brought fresh worry to Sue. | |
| "What about all those disabled people who had their PIP assessments today or are awaiting a tribunal date? What happens to them?" | "What about all those disabled people who had their PIP assessments today or are awaiting a tribunal date? What happens to them?" |
| By Bernadette McCague, UGC and Social News team | By Bernadette McCague, UGC and Social News team |