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New points system for new benefit – have your say urges McCausland

Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, is urging local people to help shape the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment which will soon replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working age customers.
~ Tuesday, 17 January 2012

The new PIP assessment will look at the impact a person’s illness or disability has on their ability to perform a range of everyday tasks, and will replace DLA for all existing and future working age customers from 2013.

Launching a 15-week consultation on the new system for assessing the impact of an individual’s condition on their daily lives, and the proposed scores which will determine eligibility and payment rate, Minister McCausland encouraged local people to have their say.

The Minister said: “I welcome this consultation; it provides a vital opportunity for people and organisations in Northern Ireland to study the proposals for the Personal Independence Payment assessment carefully and make their views known.”

The consultation also seeks views on whether further changes are required to the assessment criteria and whether the criteria reflects individual needs, for example, how the criteria will apply to individuals with fluctuating conditions.

The Minister added: “Evidence from cases in Northern Ireland has already been used to develop the new PIP assessment. However, responses to this consultation will also play an important role in determining how the new assessment criteria will affect people in Northern Ireland.

“It is widely accepted that there are significant differences in some of the conditions which lead to people claiming DLA in Northern Ireland, in comparison to other parts of Great Britain, and I am keen to ensure that the specific circumstances of Northern Ireland are taken into account when policies that are likely to affect them are being crafted in Westminster.

“I support the reform of the benefit system where it seeks to support people back into work, and where it offers help to those who are genuinely in need of financial assistance. However, we need to ensure that these reforms take into account the specific circumstances of the people of Northern Ireland.”

Any views or comments put forward by respondents in Northern Ireland on the consultation entitled, ‘Personal Independence Payment: supplement to the second draft of the assessment criteria’, will be passed to the Department for Work and Pensions for consideration.

An electronic version of the document is available to view or download from the Department’s website at: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/consultations/consultation-pip.htm

Respondents should send comments to:

Mrs Diane Clarke
Social Security Policy and Legislation Division
Department for Social Development
Level 1, James House
2-4 Cromac Avenue
Gasworks Business Park
Ormeau Road
BELFAST
BT7 2JA

You can also e-mail: Diane.Clarke@dsdni.gov.uk, telephone: 028 9081 9119 or fax: 028 9081 9139. A text phone service is available on: 028 9081 9140. The closing date for comments is the 30 April 2012.

Notes to editors:

  1. 185,000 people in Northern Ireland are currently in receipt of DLA. 117,000 of these will have their cases reviewed beginning in 2013 when plans to introduce a new Personal Independence Payment which will replace DLA, come into effect. Children aged under 16 and adults aged over 65 will not have their cases reviewed under the current reform plans.
  2. It will have two components – a daily living component and a mobility component which will be payable at either a standard or enhanced rate.
  3. Decisions on entitlement will be made using a range of evidence including that from an assessment carried out by an independent healthcare professional.
  4. Draft regulations setting out the assessment criteria and initial points scores for individual descriptors were published in November 2011.
  5. Descriptors are:
    • Preparing food and drink
    • Taking nutrition
    • Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
    • Bathing and grooming
    • Managing toilet needs or incontinence
    • Dressing and undressing
    • Communicating
    • Engaging socially
    • Making financial decisions
    • Planning and following a journey
    • Moving around
  6. The consultation runs from 16 January to 30 April 2012.
  7. Media enquiries to DSD Communications Team on 028 9082 9456 or email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.