Black Isle Media

Listen to This Article

Minister for Disabled People, Sarah Newton MP has revealed that between 2013 and 2018 over 73,000 claimants died within 6 months of making their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim. However, she also revealed that 7,990 claimants who’d had their claim REJECTED, died within 6 months of making a claim.

Not to mention that over 5,000 terminally ill people never lived long enough to get a decision.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the disability benefit that is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for 16 to 65 year olds.

Since it’s introduction in 2013 it has been plagued with issues.

The health assessments are a topic of much distain due to their heartless approach.

71% of claimants who have appealed against the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) decision have won. This is often due to a poor assessment were claimants medical evidence is ignored.

Labour MP for Bridgend, Madeline Moon submitted a written question asking;

“How many claimants of personal independence payments who died within six months of their claim being registered had their application rejected.“

Newton urged caution in use if the figures as they were; “previously unpublished“. Basically, they’d rather you didn’t mention them at all because, they weren’t going to.

Of the 3.1 million people who claimed PIP between April 2013 and April 2018, 7,990 died within 6 months of having their claim REJECTED. Yes that is correct, the DWP denied them help and yet they died within 6 months.

In another question, Labour MP Moon asked how many PIP claimants died within 3 months of their claim being rejected. The Minister gave the following information.

“3,680 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants died within three months of their initial application being disallowed.”

Terminally ill die waiting

These latest figures come when Newton also revealed that 5,290 claimants who’d applied under the Special Rules for Terminally Ill people (SRTI), (those a terminal disease with less than 6 months to live), died before the DWP made a decision on their claim.

The assessment and decision making system for PIP has had over 5 years to iron out any issues but, these figures show that clearly many still remain.

PIP is there to support those most in need, for those who are dying, the stress of the application process is often too much.

Now its revealed that thousands of people have died without even getting a decision.

It’s frankly a disgrace, but as usual, the DWP headed by Amber Rudd plough on claiming it’s changing lives.

I agree it is changing lives, but not for the better.

Black Isle Journalism is a totally independent news organisation without corporate backing or pudhy investors. We rely on the goodwill of our readers to help pay our staff and run the site. If you’d like to support us, please consider donating or sponsoring us. In the age of client journalism, Independent Journalism is even more important.