1. 2 updates

MPs hit out over disability benefit 'fiasco'

MPs have warned that a flagship government welfare scheme is a "fiasco" that has caused unnecessary distress to thousands of sick and disabled people.

Live updates

Public Accounts Committee: PIP failures are 'shocking'

The cross-party Commons Public Accounts Committee has accused Atos of providing "incorrect and potentially misleading" information about its capabilities when tendering to carry out claim assessments for the Government for the PIP scheme.

The firm has since agreed to end its contract early.

The DWP has let down some of the most vulnerable people in our society, many of whom have had to wait more than six months for their claims to be decided.

The personal stories we heard were shocking... a claimant requiring hospital intervention as a result of the stress caused by the delays suffered, and another claimant who was unable to afford the specific diet required for diabetes and gastric problems while waiting for a decision.

Some claimants have been forced to turn to food banks, loans and charitable donations to support the extra costs of living associated with their disability.

– PAC chair Margaret Hodge

MPs expressed alarm that the average waiting time for terminally ill people to receive a decision was 28 days, 180% longer than originally expected.

The standard of service for claimants had been "unacceptable", with assessors cancelling home visits at the last minute, and failing to turn up after individuals travelled to assessment centres.

MPs: Personal Independence Payment scheme a 'fiasco'

MPs have warned that a flagship government welfare scheme is a "fiasco" that has caused unnecessary distress to thousands of sick and disabled people.

The influential Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said implementation of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) had been "rushed" and described the impact as "shocking".

Margaret Hodge MP chairs the Commons Public Accounts Committee. Credit: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Terminally ill people have been waiting an average of a month to be awarded the benefit, which was introduced last year to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Other claims were delayed more than six months, with some individuals taken to hospital due to the stress of the process and unable to afford medically-prescribed diets.

Advertisement

Back to top