MIND response to PIP urgent question
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, has responded to today's urgent question about PIP.
People who find it difficult to leave the house because of anxiety, panic attacks, and other mental health problems are as restricted in their independence as many people with physical mobility problems, and face just as many higher costs in their daily lives as other disabled people do. The Government’s changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would affect over 160,000 people with mental health problems in the future - both in and out of work - who have extra costs related to their disability.
These proposed changes could prevent people accessing the financial support they need to get to health or job appointments, get out to pay for fuel and heating, take their children to school or see friends and family – things essential to their daily lives and recovery, things essential to preventing isolation. The Government says that it is committed to treating mental health as seriously as physical health, but these proposals call this commitment into question. These misguided proposals must be reversed.
Mind is fighting hard to try to make sure the benefits system works for people with mental health problems. This includes highlighting the negative impact of sanctions, trying to get this damaging change to PIP reversed, and campaigning against the proposed £30 a week cut to the work related activity group (WRAG) of the out-of-work disability benefit Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Our legal team is also looking into a possible legal challenge if this legislation comes into force.
