DLA to become "Personal Independence Payment" (PIP)

Central to Personal Independence Payment will be a new, "objective assessment" that will focus on the ability of an individual to carry out a range of key activities necessary for everyday life. The assessment, which will be used to re-assess working age claimants and make new awards, will take into account evidence from healthcare professionals. In most cases the Government envisages the new assessment will include a face-to-face meeting with an independent healthcare professional, such as a doctor or occupational therapist.

The proposals mean Personal Independence Payment will continue to be paid as a non-means-tested cash benefit contributing to the extra costs of disability. It will have two components, like now, but will be focused around an individual's ability to get around independently (the mobility component) and their ability to carry out other key activities necessary to be able to participate in daily life (the daily living component).

The Government consultation on the plans which closes on 14 February 2011, poses a number of important questions. Other key proposals include changing the qualifying period for Personal Independent Payment and periodically reviewing all awards.

The Government also proposes that for Personal Independence Payment there are no automatic entitlements. Instead the consultation says that each individual will be looked at individually. People with severe sight loss will be eligible for DLA higher rate mobility component from April 2011, as planned. However, the consultation states automatic entitlements could change from 2013.

Download details of the sector’s concerns with the consultation document's proposals (link)

Together with our colleagues in other organisations representing blind and partially sighted people Guide Dogs will be responding to the consultation to ensure the Personal Independence Payment takes into account the significant barriers blind and partially sighted people face.

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