Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Personal Independent Payment assessments take account of complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is focused on an individual’s functional needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself.

Health Professionals undertaking assessments on behalf of the Department must be registered practitioners who have also met requirements around training and competence. All Health Professionals (HPs) receive training on how to identify the impact of mental health conditions on claimants. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is part of the Continuing Professional Development aimed at updating HPs on key clinical topics. HPs have access to a range of resources, as well as to experienced clinicians to support them in assessing individuals with conditions with which they may not be familiar. In addition, Mental Health Function Champions support HPs by providing additional expertise about mental health, cognitive, developmental and learning disabilities that can be referred to at any time during the assessment process.