DWP still considering sweeping changes to PIP despite ruling out some measures

Stephen Timms said: “We do not intend to publish a response to the previous government’s consultation."

The Department for Work and Pensions is reportedly STILL considering sweeping changes to Personal Independence Payment despite ruling out axing cash payments for either a voucher system or a new catalogue method, under proposals from the Conservative Party government.

In answer to a parliamentary question asked by Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain, the minister for social security Stephen Timms said: “We do not intend to publish a response to the previous government’s consultation.

“We will be considering our own plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do.” Labour is yet to announce what its “own plans for social security” will look like.

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The DWP received 16,000 responses to the consultation into the PIP changes, which Timms said were “mixed and for some proposals consistently negative”. A DWP spokesperson said: “We are committed to championing the rights of disabled people so their views and voices are at the heart of all we do. We are now considering the responses to the consultation.”

Labour has dropped proposals for PIP changes by the Conservative government, based on a DWP minister saying the government has “no intention” to publish a response to the consultation. The previous government planned to overhaul the disability benefits system to slash the welfare bill.

These changes could see personal independence payments (PIP) replaced with one-off grants and vouchers, and the eligibility criteria tightened. Under Labour, the Department for Work and Pensions has promised to consider its “own approach to social security in due course” and “champion the rights of disabled people”.

But it is yet to confirm whether it will continue with the proposals for PIP - causing much concern and anxiety for claimants.