DWP update due on plan to replace monthly PIP cash payments

A raft of changes have been proposed to the benefit system

More than 3.6 million people receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) could find out as early as next week if the proposed changes outlined in the 'Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper' will be implemented by the new Labour Government.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to hold a questions session on Monday, October 7, in the House of Commons, providing the first opportunity for the new ministerial team, led by Liz Kendall, to respond to queries from the Opposition benches.

An online consultation about the proposed overhaul of the benefits system, which includes abolishing the Work Capability Assessment and introducing a single tier assessment approach for all benefits, received more than 16,000 responses. After the consultation ended on July 22, Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said that the DWP will examine the responses while "considering our own approach to social security in due course".

More recently, in response to a question from Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy about the Work Capability Assessment, Sir Stephen confirmed that the government is "committed to reforming or replacing the Work Capability Assessment, alongside putting in place a proper plan to support disabled people into work".

He said: "We will also give disabled people the confidence to start working without fear of an immediate benefit reassessment if it does not work out. More disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve," reports the Daily Record.

"These plans are central to our missions of kickstarting economic growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity," reports the Mirror.

"This government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and to the principle of working with them, so that their views and voices will be at the heart of all that we do."

The proposed changes could see a shift away from the current system, where Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients may receive up to £737.20 every four weeks, to alternative forms of support, such as vouchers, one-off grants, a system based on actual expenditure, or selecting support tools from a list.

Other suggestions include revising the eligibility criteria for PIP, overhauling the assessment process, and transferring the costs of PIP to the NHS and local authorities. Alternatives to regular PIP cash payments The Green Paper is exploring alternatives to the usual cash handouts of Personal Independent Payments (PIP), discussing other potential methods to assist individuals with disabilities and chronic health issues.

These methods are outlined as means for maintaining contributions towards the extra expenses incurred by these individuals. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has predicted that the proposed alterations to the Work Capability Assessment could result in 424,000 individuals with severe mobility or mental health problems losing out on additional Universal Credit of more than £400 a month and protection from sanctions.