Recent statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal that over 1.5 million individuals – accounting for 41% of all 3.6 million Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants – have been granted financial support for five years or more. It shows that far from billions in punitive cuts that the Labour Party government is planning, chronically ill and disabled people actually need the support – and likely need more of it, too.
Long-term awards: not ‘taking the mickey’
DWP PIP figures show that more than half (58%) of recipients suffering from visual impairments receive a maximum of £737.20 per month, while around 50.8% of individuals with general musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis are also benefitting from long-term awards.
Additionally, almost half (49.5%) of those with neurological conditions like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis have been granted similar support.
These awards serve as vital financial lifelines for countless individuals trying to manage their conditions while navigating daily life. Of course, what underscores so many of these conditions is that they are unlikely to improve – meaning that chronically ill and disabled people will need DWP PIP support permanently.
PIP, which provides essential financial assistance for the additional costs of being chronically ill or disabled, is designed to be a non-means tested benefit. The latest guidelines state that eligibility requires individuals to have faced challenges for at least three months, with expectations of these difficulties persisting for at least an additional nine months.
Claimants need to provide evidence of how their conditions impact their everyday activities – from preparing meals to managing medicines and even engaging with others.
That is, far from being easy to get, as the government and corporate media continue to say, DWP PIP is actually really hard to get.
As the Canary previously reported, according to the DWP’s own figures out of 721,100 PIP claims processed during the period of 2023/24, 332,800 were declined—reflecting a rejection rate of approximately 46%.
This is of course in stark contrast to what the government and corporate media would have the public believe. That is, that PIP and other disability-and health-related benefits are ‘easy’ to get – and, in the words of DWP boss Liz Kendall, people are ‘taking the mickey’.
DWP PIP rejection rates are huge…
The stark numbers were disclosed by DWP minister Stephen Timms in reply to a parliamentary inquiry posed by Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling. Darling inquired specifically about how many claims, initially refused, were later successful upon appeal.
Following the initial rejections, 13,500 DWP PIP claims were granted after appeal processes, which represents about 4% of all rejections. As noted by Timms, the total number of outstanding appeals continues to grow, with up to 18,900 cases yet to be resolved, suggesting that the true rate of successful appeals could change as more claims are reviewed.
All of this underscores the concern surrounding the DWP PIP review process, especially for claimants given limited term awards for up to two years, who may find themselves at risk of losing their financial support if their health does not improve.
The DWP’s assertion that many claimants would not usually face a review assessment does not alleviate worries for those whose conditions might unpredictably fluctuate. This is especially true of people living with mental health conditions, who face on average the shortest award period.
At a time when the government is planning to freeze DWP PIP rates next year, as part of its regressive and cruel cuts to welfare, the fact so many people get support for conditions which are not going to improve should ring alarm bells to politicians.
Featured image via the Canary
