DWP Launch Consultation On Mobility Component Of Personal Independence Payment

Press Release From The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP):

DWP announces a further consultation on the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to be launched late June 2013.

Today the DWP is giving notice of a further consultation on the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), as part of the on-going process of engagement through the introduction of the new benefit.

The new PIP assessment has been designed to target support on those who need it most - those individuals who face the greatest barriers to participating in society.

However, the department has received significant feedback from disabled people and their organisations that they want a further opportunity to comment on the finalised assessment criteria rules around the mobility component. That is why it is now giving notice of a further consultation to be launched late June.

Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey said:

Throughout the process of developing the new benefit we have listened to the feedback we have received and made significant changes to the assessment as a direct result of this feedback. This includes holding one of the biggest consultations ever at DWP.

The assessment was designed to target support on those who need it most - those individuals who face the greatest barriers to participating in society. However, we have listened to disabled people and their organisations who wanted a further consultation, so that is what we are doing.

We are carrying out the consultation with an open mind and will not decide if changes are necessary until we have fully considered the responses to this new consultation.

DWP has already announced they will be carrying out an independent review in 2014 and will consider its findings before reassessing the majority of existing DLA claimants.

Claims for PIP will continue to be processed under the current benefit rules until the outcomes of the consultation are decided. Individuals should continue to claim PIP as normal.

The consultation will be launched before the end of June 2013.