Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available for people with memory loss to undertake a personal independence payment assessment.

Claimants to Personal Independence Payment with memory problems, a severe mental health or behavioural condition, learning difficulty or developmental disorder and with no support network in place, can be provided with additional support during the claiming process if they need it. That support can include help with filling in the claim form or the questionnaire and additional protections for failing to return the questionnaire or for failing to attend a face-to-face assessment.

We recognise that attending any face-to-face assessment can be a stressful experience for some people, which is why we do not carry out face-to-face consultations where there is enough existing evidence to determine benefit entitlement. Furthermore, where a face-to-face consultation is required, we and our Assessment Providers encourage claimants to bring another person with them to consultations where they would find this helpful, for example, to reassure them or to help them during the consultation. The person chosen is at the discretion of the claimant and might be, but is not limited to, a parent, family member, friend, carer, or advocate.