We want the PIP process to be fair and accessible for blind and partially sighted people.
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process is causing blind and partially sighted people hardship and distress. Many are having their claims wrongly refused.
PIP assessors often don't understand sight loss and its impact on people’s daily lives, and some even conduct eye tests overriding evidence from NHS ophthalmologists. Poor decision-making by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is also resulting in people being offered a lower level of PIP or being refused altogether.
For further information please see the media release.
Completing the PIP application form was an incredibly negative and depressing experience for me. The form is inaccessible and I’ve had to rely on someone else to go through it with me and complete it on my behalf. Luckily my mother was able to help, but it would have been even more embarrassing to go through it with a stranger. I do so many things that break stereotypes and make me feel incredibly strong, but this form makes me feel like a helpless blind person.
Claire Lawrence