Tuesday, 15 August 2017

Personal Independence Payment


A friend of mine living with HIV recently failed the PIP 'assessment' as well as the mandatory reconsideration. Fortunately, he is in a stronger position than most who are failed by this flawed system as he has the assistance of a friend who has worked as a benefits' advisor.

As justice becomes harder and harder to access, so more of us will find ourselves denied the means to exist. Being turned down for PIP may have far-reaching consequences; and it's not simply a matter of us tightening our belts and getting on with things.

Losing out on PIP could have an impact on employment. Without their Motability car, a person's job could be at risk. Not qualifying for PIP could threaten Access to work, if a person needed a support worker. Councils are cutting care and support packages to ribbons already. Imagine how failure to receive PIP could impact on this resource.

Blue Badge, TaxiCard, Freedom Pass, Free Prescriptions, disability premiums attached to benefits, etc, can all depend on a gateway benefit such as PIP. Turning people down for PIP really does have far-reaching consequences; and I haven't even addressed the impact on mental and physical health, nor the very real prospects of social exclusion and social isolation.

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