Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on offering interim payments to claimants of the personal independence payment while the backlog of applications is cleared.

We are committed to ensuring personal independence payment claimants receive high quality, objective, fair and accurate assessments. Any delays experienced by new claimants will not affect the date from which they are awarded PIP, as successful claims will be back-dated. There is no policy or legislative basis on which to provide interim payments.