Statistics show that thousands of disabled people are still waiting over 16 weeks just to get an assessment
The DWP has published statistics on the coalition’s new Personal Independence Payments (PIPs). The stats show the government has failed – again – to get a grip of its new benefit, leaving thousands of disabled people without support.
PIPs were introduced from April 2013 to replace Disability Living Allowance for working age claimants. But Iain Duncan Smith soon performed his ‘reverse-Midas’.
Delays, backlogs and criticism forced the department to revise rollout plans significantly. The majority of DLA claimants were to be assessed after October 2015. The NAO still warned that DWP was not on track, disabled people were hit by the impact of delays and the OBR revised DLA/PIP forecasts six times as a result of repeated ministerial failures to get a grip.
Ministers also shifted the timetable for how long disabled people seeking PIPs can expect to wait for support. Initial plans proposed 12-15 weeks from claims to decisions by DWP. This became an expected 26 weeks just for people to get an assessment as part of the new, multi-million pound process; additional weeks of delays are experienced waiting for DWP to process applications and make decisions.
Despite the much lower number of people requiring PIP assessments and the extended waiting times, DWP still failed to clear the backlog. Last month the process was subject to significant criticism by the independent reviewer in a report published by DWP. It concluded that not enough was being done to tackle delays for disabled people.
IDS and the minister for Disabled People published ad hoc stats today in response to a debate secured by Labour last week. The stats were an attempt to demonstrate DWP is meeting the promise ministers made to deliver all assessments within 16 weeks by the end of 2014.
This promise was secured during an Opposition Day Debate called by shadow secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Rachel Reeves MP in June 2014.
But the stats show that thousands of disabled people are still waiting over 16 weeks just to get an assessment. This week the Guardian reported on one man with cancer who has waited ten months for an assessment. The fudged stats also pose more questions than ministers have been willing to answer:
Why are one in ten people still waiting more than 16 weeks for an assessment?
Why are over 180,000 people still stuck in a backlog waiting to have their claims assessed?
How many of the 64,000 claims that have been ‘disallowed’ by the department were due to disabled people being unable to supply medical information from GPs and hospital consultants within the timeframe stipulated by DWP; and how many of them will simply reapply?
How many of the 143,000 disallowed claims were due to disabled people being unable to attend assessments; and how many of them will reapply?
And how long is the average wait from claim to DWP decision for disabled people and their families across the country?
DWP has admitted it had to employ 76 additional temporary staff to try and reduce the backlog. But DWP hasn’t said how many staff in total it’s had to redeploy to cope with the delays in the benefit.
Nor do we know when DWP expects rollout of PIP to be complete; how many disabled people will not qualify for support; and how much more will it cost overall than initially projected.
Disabled people are right to feel aggrieved by the way the government has mishandled this issue, leaving thousands without help for months. Labour are committed to tackling the delays and the backlog that’s built up.
We’ll also ensure no one with cancer waits longer than 11 weeks for PIP assessments. After months of Tory welfare waste, and hardship for thousands of claimants, it’s time to get a grip.
Kate Green MP is the shadow minister for Disabled People. Follow her on Twitter
34 Responses to “The Tories’ PIP failure has left thousands of disabled people without support”
Amazinglyso
I shall be okay with my application for PIP due to having a supported
housing worker, but thanks for letting me know of what to expect if I
am invited to an interview. I don’t know about the DWP making
exemptions for those with mental health conditions, yet it is most
often the case that mental health conditions are not just about the
mind but also about physical mobility. I am severely agoraphobic
and morbidly depressed on and off due to past childhood sexual abuse
trauma that has left me incapacitated. Physical or mental disability
are often one of the same thing because just as physical impairment
causes morbid/clinical depression, so does mental health cause
physical limitations that employers are oftentimes biased towards
both yet more so mental health. I agree that having the support of
welfare rights has its advantages, yet each disabled individual is
not always informed of their welfare rights and where the problems
arises. Not all disabled people are computer literate like you and
me, and where the DWP takes advantage of this so as to stop
legitimate claims as well as bogus ones. I just loathe the way that
right-wing media corporations name and shame the odd benefit cheat
when they really are in the minority as a whole, yet reflects upon
genuine benefit claimants in the process.
Amazinglyso
One very good reason for the DWP to launch a serious demonstration against the policy making elite in even banned demonstration zones in London.
Amazinglyso
It is never about who is and isn’t deserving of welfare benefits, no one can compare your condition to that of another’s – why the main-three-party politicians are so confident and joyous of this same-alike battle between the poorest in our society and, so as to spend more money on foreign aid and less on those in their own country. Please don’t doubt your eligibility for welfare support because of any past experiences and/or fearful rejection. You should get some medical representation from your GP who knows your disability and can write a lengthy supporting letter on your behalf – don’t be afraid of asking them either as they are not just employed as medicinal practitioners, yet also as community support and care officers where there are no community care and support officials to fight your corner.
Amazinglyso
You give wonderfully insightful and informed advice here. I also recommend that claimants also approach some independent solicitors where there may be no free legal aid representation through the CAB and n difficult cases where there is no care supporting officers in disabled people’s lives especially. Many high-charging-fee solicitors are taking on clients who are already benefit-dependent and they will not charge a fee at all for free consultation. This is not the same as No Win No Fee type of solicitors yet your regular run of the mill ones who are oftentimes far more real and compassionate about human welfare rights.
Amazinglyso
I am sincerely sorry and sad for your situation. ASOS was primarily set up to get as many disabled people off benefits as you already know, not just those who have pretence conditions to maximize income. If you don’t have a support carer of any kind to write a strong and dedicated supportive letter on your behalf, I strong recommend contacting your GP practice and get them to do one which is free of charge if you are in receipt of benefits already. I would also approach a regular solicitor – not one of those No Win No Fee types, who charge massive administration fees, yet locally based ones who are already well aid enough to fight your corner at affordable very low cost. Consultations are always free with your main high street solicitors, yet they will certainly not charge you anything unaffordable for fighting your case: £150 maximum at a repayable rate of say £5 per month.