Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what changes have been made in the criteria for assessment of the mobility component of personal independence payment for those with mental health benefits.

DWP has made no changes to its policy for assessment of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for those experiencing mental health issues. In 2016, a legal judgment altered the way PIP Mobility Activity 1 was interpreted. As a result, the 2017 amending regulations were introduced in order to clarify the criteria and restore the original aim of the policy. In November 2017 the PIP Assessment Guide (the guide used by the Assessment Provider’s Health Professionals), was also updated to clarify this policy following a recommendation by the Social Security Advisory Committee.