Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

As part of the Welfare Reform Bill, the Government plans to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

DLA was introduced in 1992 because day-to-day activities cost more if you are disabled. The Government says its aim is to “ensure support continues to be focused on those who face the greatest challenges to taking part in everyday life.”

But as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) prepares to test the new system, Scope is warning that the assessment is fundamentally flawed, because assessing the impact of impairment in a limited range of everyday activities will tell you little or nothing about the extra costs a disabled person faces, such as:

• Costs as a result of living in unsuitable or poorly adapted housing
• Costs of not being able to access public transport and having to pay for private hire to run basic everyday errands
• Costs of not having friends or neighbours to provide support or help with household tasks and care needs
• Costs that come from being employed or undertaking voluntary work

Read the full background to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).