Eligibility criteria key to DLA reform
16 May 2012
This week, Iain Duncan Smith has again been talking about the
replacement of disability living allowance (DLA) with the personal
independence payment (PIP). The key to this reform will be the way
its eligibility criteria are used and it is imperative that this is
got right - but will it be? Concerns remain. In an interview with the Telegraph,
published on Sunday, Work and Pensions Secretary Duncan Smith
reiterated his arguments for the planned reform of DLA. For those
who have followed the debate, he said nothing new: claims have gone
up by 30% in recent years, assessments weren't rigorous etc.
However, it should be noted that Duncan Smith's comments did
contain some inaccuracies, such as his statement that 70% of
claimants had 'lifetime' awards. This is untrue: 'lifetime' awards
were abandoned in 2000 and replaced with 'indefinite' awards. In
any event, it's not unreasonable for a proportion of people to
claim DLA for long periods of time. Rather than "fester" on it, as
Duncan Smith put it, many people with learning or physical
disabilities will never see substantial improvement in their
conditions. While their life and capabilities may improve with
help, taking away their benefit and what it enables them to
purchase, could see their progress reversed. With this in mind, the
focus has to be on ensuring that PIP is as fair as possible and
that the eligibility criteria take such things into account. The
Telegraph said that PIP may be based on the work
capability assessment (WCA), which is used for employment and
support allowance. This will send a shiver down the spine of many
who claim that benefit. The WCA is widely disliked by claimants,
and has been the subject of two reviews by Professor Malcolm
Harrington since its introduction in October 2008, yet still
concerns remain. The main gripes about the WCA revolve around such
things as whether it takes into account the difficulties that
people with conditions such as autism face - and the help they need
to function. The eligibility criteria for PIP will need to ensure
that issue of this kind are properly addressed. While people with
profound or complex learning disabilities may have little to fear
in these reforms - Duncan Smith says that the benefit will focus on
those who need it most - some at the milder end of the spectrum,
such as those who currently claim lower-rate DLA may well lose out.
Indeed, with the stated aim of getting 500,000 people off the
existing benefit, it seems certain that some will be deemed
ineligible. This is where the main concerns lie. While the changes
may help to cut the benefit bill, people who do lose out could
experience serious reductions in their quality of life and in their
independence. For example, if the money is currently used to pay
for transport to work, it could mean they will not be able get
there and would lose their job as a result. If the
eligibility criteria aren't up to scratch, that may result in
short-term cost savings for the Government. But, in the
longer-term, it could cost more in economic and - more importantly
- human terms. Consultations are on-going over the eligibility
criteria, so now is the time to get these messages across to
Government in the strongest possible terms.
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