Sense welcomes changes to PIP regulations
01 February 2013
On Thursday 31 January, the Government committed to make changes to the draft regulations that set out who will be able to get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and how they will be assessed. The changes, which will be made by passing an amendment to the original regulations (see footnote for more details), will ensure that assessors have to consider if a person can do an activity outside their assessment ‘safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period.’
These changes are great news for deafblind people. For example, the risks a deafblind person faces when out in traffic will now have to be considered by assessors and by appeal tribunals.
Along with the Disability Benefits Consortium and others, Sense had called for the original PIP regulations, which were laid before Parliament in December last year, to be changed. Sense activists got in touch with their MPs and the Sense Public Policy team briefed the Work and Pensions Select Committee ahead of their evidence session with the Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey MP, to raise concerns about the original regulations. That the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has agreed to change the regulations shows that taking action on these issues can have a real, positive impact.
If you have any concerns about PIP, or need advice about applying, contact Sense's Information and Advice Service by email at info@sense.org.uk or by telephone or textphone on 0845 127 0066.
* The original regulations are being considered by Parliament now and we anticipate that they will be passed. After that, an 'amending regulation' will be laid before Parliament for a vote. This amending regulation will insert 'safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period' into the original regulations. This might sound complicated, but it's just the way the system works. What is important is that the change will be made - and it will be made before the regulations come into force in April.