From DLA to PIP: A review of the transition

About this report

In light of the national media coverage of problems people were reported as having with the transition from Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Healthwatch Trafford decided to look into the matter in our borough. The project was created to find out how Trafford residents involved in the PIP system had experienced and been affected by these changes.

Key findings

• We found that respondents overwhelmingly had a negative experience of the process.
• We found that the majority of respondents felt their mental health had deteriorated, both as a result of their award, and of the application process. On average a third of respondents felt their physical health had also suffered.
• The proportion of applicable respondents reporting that they felt ‘very worried’ at different stages of the process ranged from more than a third (38%) to just over half (54%).

Recommendations

• We recommend that local organisations who work with PIP claimants come together to share information and produce a comprehensive guide to the process.
• We recommend that Trafford Council review current council tax relief measures and consider what further support could be made available for PIP claimants, particularly if they receive no award while awaiting the result of a mandatory reconsideration or appeal.
• We recommend the Salford and Trafford Local Medical Committee and Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group review and change their policies on providing medical evidence.
• We recommend that Trafford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester review the provision of accessible community transport.
• We recommend Trafford MPs continue to speak up for their constituents who have faced difficulties under the PIP system.