PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Personal Independence Payment: Appeals (17 March 2017)

The system of assessing claimants’ eligibility for Personal Independent Payment (PIP) has been continually reviewed and refined in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. We continue to work extensively with PIP assessment providers and disability representatives to make improvements to guidance, training and audit procedures in order to ensure a quality service is maintained.

Furthermore, as part of on-going review and improvement of PIP, we are continuing to make efforts to ensure that all decisions, whether made initially or at Mandatory Reconsideration, are the best informed decisions. For example, the department is running a series of tests which explores the different ways we can improve evidence gathering and the quality of our decision making.

However, it is important that claimants can appeal their award decision if they are unhappy with it. Moreover, a request for an appeal does not mean that the decisions taken initially and as part of Mandatory Reconsideration were inaccurate. Claimants often provide new, relevant evidence at the tribunal stage.