Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department determines that a claimant has a health condition or disability that qualifies them to apply for personal independence payment at the point of (a) testing, (b) diagnosis or (c) treatment.

Other than for claims from people who are terminally ill, entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is on the basis of an assessment of an individual’s needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. The definition of a health condition or disability being long-term is through the application of a three month qualifying period, during which a claimant would have met the PIP entitlement conditions, and a nine month prospective test during which they are expected to meet the entitlement conditions. A diagnosis is not a necessary pre-cursor to a decision although details of any treatment may be taken in to account as part of the assessment.