From April 2013 in a few pilot areas in the North West and North East of England, people with disabilities and illnesses will be able to start making claims for a new benefit called the Personal Independence Payment (or PIP). Over the course of the year, the new benefit will be rolled-out and, eventually, it will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Call on your MP to help make sure the assesments are fair
We know that the way in which assessments for benefits are carried out is really important. There have been too many bad experiences of the Work Capability Assessment and, although the Government is very much to blame for this, we know that the way in which Atos has delivered these assessments has not helped.
The assessments for PIP will be delivered by Atos in some areas, but in other areas a company called Capita will deliver the assessments. We want to make the most of this situation and use the differences in how these companies deliver the assessment to drive up the quality and make the process fairer for disabled people. A new report by the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), a group of over 60 charities including RNIB, highlights these differences and makes recommendations for improving the assessment.
We need you to contact your MP now and tell them about this report, so that they can put pressure on the Government, Atos and Capita to get these assessments right. Our campaign action makes it easy to contact your MP, tell them which company will be delivering the assessment in your area, and highlight our key concerns.
Who are the Disability Benefits Consortium?
The Disability Benefits Consortium is a coalition of over 60 different charities and other organisations including RNIB. Using our combined knowledge, experience and direct contact with disabled individuals and carers, we seek to ensure Government policy reflects and meets the needs of all disabled people.
For more information check out the DBC website.