Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to change the application processes for personal independence payment and attendance allowance to allow third parties to help claimants.

There are no plans to change the application process for Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance as third parties can already assist the claimant throughout the claim process and beyond.

A third party can assist the disabled person in making the telephone claim for PIP. They can also help the person complete any paper claim form where necessary. Further within the claim process, they can help the claimant complete any evidence gathering forms and can also accompany them to any face to face consultation with a Health Care Professional, at the claimant’s request.

Separately to this, a third party can make a claim under the Special Rules for the Terminally Ill provisions where the claimant has a life expectancy of less than 6 months, without any involvement from the disabled person, although all notifications are sent to the customer.

For claims to Attendance Allowance a third party can assist the disabled person by completing a clerical claim form. In addition, claims to Attendance Allowance can be made via Alternative Offices. These are offices authorised by the Secretary of State, with nominated staff trained from specified partner organisations to receive and check Social Security claims made by Attendance Allowance customers. They can also collect and validate information and supporting evidence and record the first date of claim.