Star date: 25th April 2017

CHARITY WARNS OF HARDSHIP FOR DLA CLAIMANTS FAILING PIP ASSESSMENTS

Poverty charity Turn2us is warning about how the move from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is leaving many people with a disability struggling to pay for basic living costs.

The impact of the Tory Government policy has been that many people who had been receiving DLA have not passed the PIP assessment, with consequent loss of benefits... "Not receiving PIP after previously receiving DLA can have sudden and devastating consequences at a time when people are least resilient" says Alison Taylor, Director of Turn2us.

Full details here...

The last available Government figures, from August 2016, show that 14,384 people in Salford were receiving Disability Living Allowance, or DLA, which is extra money for adults who have care and mobility needs as a result of their disability.

Personal Independence Payment, or PIP, is the benefit which is replacing DLA for anyone aged between 16 and 64 on 8th April 2013. And disabled people are having to make a new claim for PIP, even if they have been given an indefinite or lifetime award of DLA (Those aged 65 or over on 8th April 2013 will carry on getting DLA).

The Tory Government has been criticised by Labour MPs for "shifting the goalposts" for PIP entitlement, which they say will strip benefits for over 160,000 disabled people.

There are currently 7,275 people in Salford already receiving PIP and poverty charity Turn2us is highlighting how the move from DLA to PIP is leaving many people with disabilities struggling to pay for basic living costs, as they are not passing new PIP assessments.

"This will result in a significant drop in the income of someone who has an illness or disability and represents the loss of genuinely valuable support" says Alison Taylor, Director of Turn2us Operations "Not receiving Personal Independence Payment after previously receiving Disability Living Allowance can have sudden and devastating consequences at a time when people are least resilient."

Turns2us states that many people report that they find the PIP assessment very difficult and that it appears that people are more likely to pass the assessment if they have someone to advocate for them.

The charity is urging anyone struggling with accessing benefits to seek its help in gaining access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services – online, by phone and face to face through partners and volunteers.

In the meantime, disabled people's groups are urging a vote against the Tory Government in the forthcoming General Election to get a more disabled-friendly party into power.

* The Turn2us website includes a Benefits Calculator to find out what welfare benefits and tax credits people are entitled to; a Grants Search to find out eligibility for support from over 3,000 charitable funds, and a range of information and resources to help people in financial hardship.

www.Turn2us.org.uk