Slow care payments taking their toll

OLDHAM MP Debbie Abrahams has spoken up for disabled people’s rights in Westminster.


The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP aired concerns about the Personal Independence Payment assessment process - and the huge toll that slow payments are putting on thousands of disabled people and their families.

She said: “I welcome welfare reforms where we can see there will be genuine benefit. But the PIP process has been beset with problems since it was introduced.

“I heard from a woman whose partner has cancer and is waiting for radiotherapy. They have been living on £113 a week since they applied at the beginning of April, and there is also an effect on benefits such as carer’s allowance, disability premiums and concessionary travel.”

It was not until the February 2014 National Audit Office report described “poor early operational performance” for new PIP claimants that the Government took action.

After the debate Debbie said: “How the Government expects people to manage with no money for so long is a complete mystery to me. It was clear from this debate that there is no remorse from the Government. The delays are just another way of making people give up.”