The DWP has made a clarification after a GP voiced concerns about how informal observations and the 20-metre rule work for PIP assessments.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit that supports people who live with a long-term illness or condition that affects their daily life or ability to get around.
Applicants often have to undergo an assessment with a health professional to determine what level of support they need.
Labour MP Rupa Huq asked the DWP whether ministers had considered scrapping informal observations, the 20-metre rule and the 50 percent rule for PIP assessments.
Disabilities minister Tom Pursglove provided a response. He said with regard to informal observations, these are limited to between the point when the assessment starts and when it ends.
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He added that the health professional cannot document observations outside this timeframe and this practice is “useful in assessing functional capability” with no plans to scrap it.
The minister also said: “The enhanced rate of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility component was always intended to be for those ‘unable’ or ‘virtually unable’ to walk.
“The 20-metre distance was introduced to distinguish those whose mobility is significantly more limited than others and who face even greater barriers on a day-to-day basis. “Individuals who can walk more than 20 metres can still receive the enhanced rate of the Mobility component if they cannot do so safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly or in a reasonable time period.
“We believe the current assessment criteria, including the 20-metre rule, are the best way of identifying people whose physical mobility is most limited and there are no immediate plans to make changes.”
How much is PIP?
PIP payments are made up of a daily living part and a mobility part. These are the current weekly rates:
Daily living component
- Standard rate: £68.10
- Enhanced rate: £101.75.
Mobility component
- Standard rate: £26.90
- Enhanced rate: £71.
PIP is paid every four weeks meaning a person on the highest entitlement would get £691.
There are more than 500 conditions that may qualify a person to receive PIP. These are the main categories, alongside the number of people who claim for that condition:
- Haematological Disease – 7,577
- Infectious disease – 10,962
- Malignant disease – 100,863
- Metabolic disease – 4,782
- Psychiatric disorders – 1,206,838
- Neurological disease – 411,887
- Visual disease – 57,180
- Hearing disorders – 34,399
- Cardiovascular disease – 83,568
- Gastrointestinal disease – 29,036
- Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract -11,770
- Skin disease – 21,375
- Musculoskeletal disease (general) – 649,780
- Musculoskeletal disease (regional) – 387,128
- Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) – 17,997
- Genitourinary disease – 24,777
- Endocrine disease – 43,288
- Respiratory disease – 136,757
- Multisystem and extremes of age – 1,235
- Diseases of the immune system – 1,081
- Unknown or missing – 10,547.
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