PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Social Security Benefits: Disability (24 October 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support available for people with progressive conditions; and to what extent the assessment process for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payments takes into account the fluctuating and progressive nature of conditions such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

Both Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have been designed to take full account of fluctuating conditions and healthcare professionals who undertake assessments are required to fully explore and report any fluctuations in a claimant’s condition(s).

If a claimant has a progressive medical condition, healthcare professionals will take this into consideration when advising the Department as to when the claimant might need to be reviewed.

Entitlement to both ESA and PIP is based on the impact of the claimant’s disability or health conditions.

Answered by:
Mr Mark Harper (Conservative)
29 October 2014