Benefits: Disabled PIP claimant sees income ‘slashed’ after PIP assessment | Personal Finance | Finance

Specifically, this assessment was for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). PIP is a benefit payment designed to help those with disabilities or illnesses with the additional living expenses that arise from having their condition. It is paid in two separate parts: a daily living component and a mobility component which go towards different costs.

The daily living component is reserved for help with everyday tasks, while the mobility component is used as payment for assistance in moving around.

Each component is given to claimants at either a higher or lower rate which are awarded upon an assessment by the DWP, which determines how much someone will get.

Readers of Express.co.uk have got in touch, with some reporting “humiliating” experiences due to this assessment process which has resulted in them losing much needed financial support.

One reader, who chose to remain anonymous, said: “My ‘income’ was slashed and with another change of their ‘decision-making process’ it seems very likely that instead of being reassessed.

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“The new ‘support’ will just base my new ‘income’ on the reduced amount I currently receive. This means that millions of other struggling and disabled people will be in the same position.”

Suffering from M.E, the benefit claimant has been in receipt of PIP for many years but an assessment which took place just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in her mobility component being cut.

As a consequence of this, she was pushed into a dire financial situation as well as a great deal of personal anguish.

She explained: “I have had extensive medicals over the years but because of the current directive, the DWP not only refused my request to be seen by a doctor (to prove my condition) but in so doing, dismissed the findings of all of the previous doctors.

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During the last two years, they have been forced to change their spending habits just to get by due the lack of money and support she receives via PIP.

“I learned to cut down my expenses, but it means you have to live on cheap microwavable slop, nothing properly nutritious,” she said.

“I had to stop buying American products that had been very good for me, for self-medication. I have had to live in such a basic way that it is still nearly impossible to cope with it.”

Speaking to Express.co.uk, a DWP spokesperson said:“We support millions of people every year and our priority is they get the benefits they are entitled as soon as possible, and to ensure they receive a supportive and compassionate service.

“PIP decisions are made following careful consideration of all the information provided, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist and 35% of claimants receive the highest level of support on PIP, compared to 15 percent on DLA.

“Anyone who disagrees with a decision can appeal. (The claimant) did so, the decision was upheld and (they) chose not to appeal this further.”