MS Society calls for urgent Government review of the PIP process
It’s the tenth anniversary of Personal Independence Payment in the UK, but the MS Society is not celebrating.
It has today released new figures which reveal the worrying effect that the PIP process has on the overall mental and physical health of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The report “PIP and MS: A Decade of Failure” surveyed over 3,500 people with MS – its largest ever study into PIP.
Its key findings were:
- 65% said going through the process had a negative or very negative impact on their physical and mental health.
- 61% said their assessment report did not give an accurate reflection of their MS. Whilst 45% said they felt that they did not receive the correct award.
- 72% said the assessment made them feel anxious, while 69% said it made them feel stressed. 37 said it made them feel embarrassed.
The MS Society is now calling for the Government to review and overhaul the PIP process to ensure that it more accurately reflects the impact on those who are living with MS.
You can read the full report on the MS Society’s website or sign up to its petition calling on the UK Government to launch a full review into PIP here.
The Law Centre has seen many challenges in the implementation of PIP over the years and we have consistently raised these issues with the Department for Communities and Capita on behalf of our clients and the advice sector. We recently updated our guide to Personal Independence Payment in Northern Ireland to support advisers who are providing assistance to those involved with PIP. You can read it here.