Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that assessment criteria for personal independence payments do not prevent people with disabilities from receiving sufficient payments for their needs.

The purpose of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is to provide a tax-free, cash contribution of up to £141.10 a week towards the additional cost which disabled people face. PIP is a part of the wide range of other financial and practical support that may be available depending on individual circumstances.

To date, there is a higher proportion of people on the top rates of Personal Independence Payment than there were on DLA – 29 per cent vs 15 per cent.

We will continue to closely monitor developments across the health and disability landscape and engage with stakeholders to improve the service we provide. We are committed to ensuring that the PIP reassessment process works effectively across the spectrum of disabilities and health conditions.