Impact assessment needed on the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

Without an impact assessment the Government has no way of knowing how detrimental the proposals will be on the lives of disabled people who rely on PIP to make ends meet,

In its response to the Green Paper, CAWNAC has expressed deep concern that the proposed reforms will harm disabled people’s financial security and dignity.

PIP is an essential non-means tested benefit, designed to support disabled people with the extra cost of disability. The residents we support rely on PIP to help them live dignified lives, whether that is keeping the heating on for longer due to their condition or paying for the extra care they need.

The proposals to move towards a voucher system or supply disabled people with the ‘aids they need’ does not take into account the full experience of disability. Evidence shows that direct cash payments are essential to reducing poverty and allow people to make decisions about what they need.

CAWNAC is of the view these reforms fail to address the core issues regarding PIP, such as complex application forms, frequent reassessments and poor decision making. The government has shown that these proposals were not designed by listening to the experiences of disabled people or their carers.