The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have allocated £22 million to hire new presenting officers to support them at disability benefit tribunals.
Baroness Altmann
The government is increasing the number of Presenting Officers from 2017, to help the department present its case more effectively and gather valuable feedback from the Tribunal.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of cuts in the number of welfare rights officers and to legal aid, they will provide resources to Citizens Advice Bureaux, local mental health charities and disability organisations to provide support for disabled people who go to tribunal when appealing against their Personal Independence Payment assessment.
Baroness Altmann
Tribunal proceedings are designed to be straightforward and accessible to all. The tribunal panel is trained and possess special expertise to ensure that all issues which have a bearing on the outcome of an appeal are investigated irrespective of whether or not they have been raised by the parties.
DWP does not provide funding for this purpose. Individual local authorities may provide funding for these types of organisations but it would be a matter for the individual local authority to decide.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the medical criteria behind the introduction of a walking distance of 50 metres as part of the assessment for Disability Living Allowance in 1992.
Baroness Altmann
No walking distance was set when Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was introduced. The higher rate mobility component of DLA was always intended to be for those disabled people who were unable to walk or virtually unable to walk. The DLA regulations refer to the ability to walk out of doors being limited by reference to four factors; distance, speed, length of time or manner in which progress can be made without severe discomfort.
The lower rate mobility component was intended for people who are able to walk but need guidance or supervision because of severe mental or physical disability.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working age claimants, was developed to provide a more equal recognition of both daily living and mobility needs of those with all disability and impairment types, including physical, mental health, cognitive and sensory.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have undertaken of the results of successful appeals against Personal Independence Payment assessments.
Baroness Altmann
The Department gathers information on the reasons why Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions have been overturned from DWP Presenting Officers and the summary reasons from the Tribunal hearing. Internal Management Information for 2015/16 indicates that either new oral or documentary evidence supplied at the hearing are the leading reasons for PIP decisions being overturned in 75% of cases.
These figures are from internal DWP systems, where only one of possible multiple reasons can be recorded. They are derived from unpublished information and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics standard.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2015-11-20.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of their aim to halve the number of unemployed disabled people, whether they will conduct a review into the way the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment for enhanced rate mobility is working; and on what grounds they would consider changing the PIP assessment for enhanced rate mobility.
Baroness Altmann
The Government is committed to giving all disabled people the opportunity to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions. Work is an important part of this, which is why the Government has committed to halving the disability employment gap, requiring us to transform policy, practice and public attitudes.
Enhanced rate mobility payments within Personal Independence Payment are intended for those who face the greatest barriers to their mobility. We believe that the assessment criteria, which was designed in close consultation with disabled people and disability groups, achieve this by targeting support to those who need it most.
We currently have no plans to review how the PIP assessment for enhanced rate mobility is working.
Access to Work (ATW) provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. The type of support provided is tailored to an individual’s needs and can include travel to work, support workers and specialist aids and equipment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for recording proceedings at Personal Independence Payment assessments.
Baroness Altmann
The recording of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) consultations by assessment providers is not currently part of the contractual specification for PIP assessments.
However, claimants can ask to record their own assessment, provided they comply with the conditions put in place: they must::-
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2015-11-20.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to ensure that disabled people who used their motability car to work are able to carry on working if, after a Personal Independence Payment assessment, they lose entitlement to a Motability car and cannot afford to buy their own car.
Baroness Altmann
We recognise that the transition from DLA to PIP can be challenging for individuals, which is why the Department worked closely with Motability as we developed our plans for the introduction of PIP. The Motability charity provide a one-off package of transitional support and advice to support customers who no longer meet the eligibility criteria for the Motability scheme. For most of these customers who entered into their first lease agreement with Motability before January 2013, Motability will provide transitional support of £2,000. This will enable many former Scheme customers to continue to meet their mobility needs by purchasing a used car. For customers who entered into their first lease agreement with the scheme after January 2013 and up to December 2013, Motability will supply transitional support of £1,000 to assist with mobility costs. Motability is also providing help with the cost of adaptations made to non-scheme vehicles and information on non-scheme motoring and insurance. The Scheme also offers customers an opportunity to purchase their vehicle after the end of the lease.
Support is also available through the Access to Work Scheme, which is potentially available on application to anyone with a health condition or disability that affects the way they perform their job and who needs practical support above and beyond the reasonable adjustments that an employer has a duty to make under the Equality Act 2010. The type of support Access to Work provides is tailored to an individual’s needs and can include travel to work.
DLA and PIP are available regardless of whether claimants are in or out of work. We do not hold information about the employment circumstances of recipients of either benefit, including those who are members of Motability.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will include the current mobility criterion of 20 metres in the next review of Personal Independence Payments.
Baroness Altmann
The terms of reference for the next Independent Review of Personal Independence Payment will be announced in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2015-11-20.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the scoring system for the Personal Independence Payment assessment for enhanced rate mobility is compatible with enabling more disabled people to work, particularly in rural areas.
Baroness Altmann
The Government is committed to giving all disabled people the opportunity to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions. Work is an important part of this, which is why the Government has committed to halving the disability employment gap, requiring us to transform policy, practice and public attitudes.
Enhanced rate mobility payments within Personal Independence Payment are intended for those who face the greatest barriers to their mobility. We believe that the assessment criteria, which was designed in close consultation with disabled people and disability groups, achieve this by targeting support to those who need it most.
We currently have no plans to review how the PIP assessment for enhanced rate mobility is working.
Access to Work (ATW) provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. The type of support provided is tailored to an individual’s needs and can include travel to work, support workers and specialist aids and equipment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-07-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the result of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, what plans they have for maintaining the UK’s status as a leader in EU and international collaboration on research into rare diseases such as muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular conditions.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The Government recognises the importance of our research base, which is why we have protected the ring fenced science resource budget in real terms from its current level of £4.7bn for the rest of the parliament. Programmes such as the £1.5bn Global Challenges Research Fund and the £1bn Ross Fund will support the UK’s status as a global leader in medical research.
The Global Challenges Research Fund will mobilise the UK’s world leading research base to address key challenges facing developing countries, including in health research. The Ross Fund will develop, test and deliver a range of new products (including vaccines, drugs and diagnostics) to help combat the world’s most serious diseases in developing countries.
The referendum result has no immediate effect on the right of researchers to apply to or participate in EU research programmes. UK participants can continue to apply to the programmes in the usual way. The future of UK access to these programmes will be determined as part of a wider discussion with the EU.