A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.
Q: My mum has been claiming Personal Independence Payment for three years and I claim carers’ allowance so I can help her. We’be been told that PIP is going to be cut very soon and we are worried about how we are going to cope without that money coming in. What should we do?
A: We realise that recent announcements have caused a lot of concern to people claiming PIP – and to those who care for them.
However, it is worth noting that no changes have yet been made.
The changes are being proposed via a Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working. A Green Paper is a government consultation document that outlines proposed policies or legislation, and seeks feedback from the public and other stakeholders before the government makes a final decision. It’s essentially a way to gauge public opinion and gather input on different policy options.
The consultation
There is a consultation running now on the proposed changes. The consultation, which runs until 30 June, sets out plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support
The government says it is “keen to hear views from a wide group of people, in particular disabled people and people with health conditions” and that it is “committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything [it does].”
A description of the consultation and details of the consultation events are here and links to the Green Paper itself and the consultation questions are here and here There is both an audio and a BSL version. There are 20 consultation questions and also the opportunity for a free text reply.
If you would like to add your voice and comment on the proposed changes, you should respond to the consultation (and yes, unfortunately, it will take a couple of hours) and also contact your MP to express your views.
Finally, if you have been considering applying for PIP and would like to do so before any future changes are implemented, the details on how to do so are on the Citizens Advice website.
