People with epilepsy are being treated unfairly when it comes to assessing their disability
A petition calling for the PIP assessment process to be fairer for people with epilepsy has been launched.
Epilepsy Scotland says people with the condition are significantly disadvantaged when applying for personal independence payments, the benefit which replaced disability living allowance (DLA).
An early day motion submitted by the charity has been backed by 34 MPs across the political spectrum.
It now needs 10,000 signatures to its petition for the government to debate the issue.
PIP was introduced in England, Scotland and Wales in 2013, replacing disability living allowance (DLA). The benefit is supposed to cover some of the additional costs of having a long-term health condition, and is available to people in or out of work. It is worth up to £87.65 a week to meet daily living needs, plus up to £61.20 a week for the mobility element, depending on assessment.
Of those with epilepsy who previously received DLA, 54% were denied PIP, the second highest rejection rate out of all health conditions and double the national average.
Additionally, 65% of new claims for PIP were denied the benefit. However, of the third that appealed the decision 78% were granted PIP.
This, says the charity, is evidence that a review must be undertaken into how people with epilepsy are assessed for PIP to make the system fairer.
In June Frances Brown, Epilepsy Scotland’s welfare rights officer, said: “About 70% of my work is PIP-related. Since 2017 we have had to double our workforce to cope with demand and have recovered £1m in unpaid benefits, including PIP.
“We’ve had numerous people tell us that they don’t want to be here anymore – that they have had enough.
“It’s that feeling of not being believed – of not being listened to.”
The Scottish government intends to reform PIP when responsibility for the benefit is devolved in 2020, with changes coming in 2021.
Scotland’s social security secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “We will be replacing PIP with disability assistance for working-age people, a new person-centred benefit. We will be working to get decisions right first time, supported by a reformed assessment process, delivered by Social Security Scotland, not the private sector.
“We will reduce the need for face-to-face assessments, but, where these are necessary, we will provide people with choice and flexibility over their appointment. Our new system will also provide for the needs of people with fluctuating conditions like epilepsy.”
