Nearly 25,000 (23,658) people have signed a petition demanding that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stops these unnecessary reviews. Many of them are suffering from long term illnesses that don’t get better and say having to prove that they are still ill causes needless stress.
More than five million people between the age of 16 and state pension age are claiming PIP and ESA because they have a disability or health condition that affects their everyday life and ability to complete tasks.
Depending on the severity of an individual’s condition, Britons receive up to £608 a month to help them make ends meet.
However, the assessment process isn’t always that straightforward with lots of people criticising the DWP.
Now, thousands of people on PIP and ESA have signed a petition calling on the Government to put an end to reviews where it asks people with long term illnesses to keep proving they are ill.
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The petition’s organiser John H Paternoster wrote on the Petitions Parliament website: “People with a lifelong illness should not be subject to regular reviews for eligibility for the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
“People suffering lifelong conditions should not have to prove they are still ill every couple of years.”
He continued: “I and others like myself have been awarded PIP and ESA for lifelong illnesses yet have to be subjected to reviews for both benefits even though these conditions are for life!
“These reviews mean that people like myself are subject to repeated interviews with people who often have no idea about the conditions we suffer from, and in many case, the stress of these reviews causes a flare up and worsens the condition.
“These reviews are unnecessary and need to stop!”
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Although the petition has an impressive 23,658 signatures, 100,000 are needed by January 28 if people want the DWP to sit up and listen.
In response, the DWP said: “We have ensured that people who receive the highest level of support whose needs will not improve and most people over state pension age, receive an ongoing award of PIP with a ‘light touch’ review at the 10-year point.
“Ongoing awards can be applied to any level or combination of award outcome so long as the person’s needs are unlikely to change.
“A review can take place sooner if a person’s needs change.”
The 55-year-old woman called Allison said: “My experience with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) versus the health assessors has been awful and ongoing for years, they have left me broken both physically and mentally.”
Unfortunately, Allison’s story is not unique, with research from Macmillan Cancer Support highlighting that this is a huge problem affecting many others.
Their figures show that almost 2.5 million people across the UK end up being around £900 a month worse off after being diagnosed with cancer.
Minesh Patel, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “At a time when people with cancer should be focusing on their health, many are faced with a long wait to receive the benefits they need.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the DWP asking for comment.
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