Rethink: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) consultation
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 5:07 PM
Personal Independence Payment consultation
Rethink Mental Illness has submitted a response to the Department of Work and Pensions about proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) as one of a group of mental health charities. The new benefit, called Personal Independence Payment (PIP), is currently being tested and a further draft of the proposals will be published in October, once testing is finished and responses to the consultation have been processed.
Although these changes are only in draft form, we have serious concerns about the assessment as it stands. Currently the assessment does not adequately identify the barriers to participation that people with mental health problems face as it assesses activities in a way that focuses on physical needs and support, rather than mental health. We are also concerned that there is no guarantee that assessors will have the mental health expertise to assess people correctly, which is especially important given the fluctuating nature of mental health problems.
In our response we have suggested improvements and changes to the assessment. Assessing a wider range of activities would give a more accurate indication of how a person’s mental health condition impacts on their day to day life. We have also urged the Government to take a wider look at the combined impact of a number of other changes currently being proposed and implemented that will affect people with mental health problems. You can read our response here: Personal Independence Payment consultation response
If you have concerns about any of these changes, you can contact the Rethink Advice and Information Service on 0845 456 0455, Monday to Friday, 10:00-13:00. You can also find out more about what Rethink Mental Illness is doing to campaign on these issues, and read about our part in the Hardest Hit march!
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