New report says PIP process 'not fit for purpose'

The problems experienced by many people with arthritis when trying to access Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are highlighted inSupporting Those Who Need It Most?, a hard-hitting report from the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC)– a group of more than 80 national organisations, including Arthritis Research UK.PIP is a source of financial support designed to help people manage the extra costs they may face when living with a disability or long-term condition. It provides a lifeline to many people with arthritis. However, this new report exposes a PIP system not fit for purpose in its current form, with many describing a st ressful and complex process which fails to recognise the often invisible and fluctuating nature of arthritis.More than 1500 people with arthritis shared their experiences in the DBC survey which informed the final report. Every story told gives people with arthritis a louder voice, ensuring decision makers understand more about the realities of the current benefits system. Debs, an Arthritis Research UK campaigner, is in her 40s and has had arthritis since childhood. She features in the report: "When I wake up I'm in pain instantly. I try to stay active, but use a walking stick all the time now. When I got to the stage where I couldn’t get low enough to get into my car I became housebound for two years."I applied for PIP in 2014 and was assessed as being eligible for the Motability scheme, which meant I could lease an adapted car. This gav...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news