The Government's personal independence payment is no cause for celebration says Steve Winyard, RNIB's Head of Policy and Campaigns.
In January 2012, the Government published draft eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (PIP) that will replace disability living allowance (DLA) from next month.
These failed to adequately recognise the impact of sight loss and amongst other things threatened blind people's eligibility for the higher/enhanced mobility component of the benefit.
RNIB led a vigorous and high profile campaign throughout 2012 to challenge the draft criteria. We worked closely with other sight loss charities to ensure that our concerns were heard and understood by MPs, DWP Ministers and officials. We secured extensive media coverage for our campaigning including the front page of The Independent in May 2012.
Bleak reading
On 13th December 2012, the Government published the final PIP eligibility criteria and the regulations that put these into effect. Overall, they make for bleak reading. The Government now estimates that the PIP caseload in May 2018 will be 608,000 lower than the DLA caseload would have been without the introduction of PIP. In addition a further 510,000 re-assessed DLA recipients will see a reduction in their award.
PIP rates
In sharp contrast, the eligibility criteria for sight loss have been significantly improved. The Government has put using a white cane on a par with using a guide dog. This means that people with severe sight loss who currently receive the higher rate mobility component of DLA and who use orientation aids for all journeys will be eligible for the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP. In addition, those on the lower rate mobility of DLA should be able to access the standard rate of PIP.
The final criteria for the daily living component have also been greatly improved with the introduction of a new activity covering "reading and understanding signs, symbols and words." There was initially some uncertainty whether partially sighted people would score enough points to receive the standard rate but following further activity in Parliament in January the Government confirmed that partially sighted people who cannot read signs and symbols when out and about will be covered.
PIP timetable
A new timetable for the introduction of PIP was also announced on 13th December. From April 2013 new claims to PIP (rather than DLA) will be taken in the North West and part of the North East and this will be extended to the remainder of the country from June 2013.
From October 2013 re-assessment starts but only for those DLA recipients with a fixed period award coming up for renewal, for claimants reporting a change in their needs or for DLA recipients reaching the age of 16. For the great majority of DLA claimants transfer to PIP will not start before October 2015 and should be completed by October 2018.
Pressure on assessors
Our attention is now turning to influencing the guidance that assessors employed by Atos and Capita will use. This will provide a lot of the detail as to how the assessments are to be carried out and what information will be collected. We also want to ensure the guidance gives sufficient attention to blind and partially sighted claimants' information needs.
Another way in which RNIB will seek to ensure that blind and partially sighted people do not lose out in the transition from DLA to PIP is through the provision of information, advice and advocacy. Our objective is to ensure that everyone undergoing a PIP assessment has been properly briefed and if they are unsuccessful we will seek to provide support at appeal.
Article published in NB magazine March 2013.