Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to introduce a digital application process that is accessible for deaf people claiming personal independence payment.

The Government is committed to modernising and digitalising public services, and in the longer term, plans to develop a joined up digital journey for claimants with health and disability needs. However due to the fiscal constraints the Department cannot commit to a timescale for achieving our aspiration to further modernise technology in this area at this time. Currently deaf claimants are able to write in to ask for a paper claim form and the Department also offers “next generation text” and a video relay service.

We are considering options as to how we are able to provide a digital process in line with the recommendations of the second independent review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments.