As carefully controlled workshops which appear designed to justify using costs to determine PIP awards are held by the Timms review, Benefits and Work is asking readers to give their opinion.
We want you to take a few seconds to answer a single question and, if you wish, make a comment afterwards. Whatever happens, Timms should not be the only source of feedback on this idea.
Take part in the survey
Tell us whether you support the idea of PIP awards being based on disability costs.
You can also read a selection of comments from the survey below. We will be updating these regularly.
Comments
"their inability to hold down a full time job"
"Not every disability is visible. As a parent to 2 adults with Autism their financial situation is relying on benefits due to their inability to hold down a full time job. They both face extra expenses due to their inability and way their autism runs their life. They need help with transport, are limited to certain foods, require extra heating costs due to sensory issues. Therapies etc all come at an extra cost along with having to pay extra for someone to attend anything they attend as they can’t go alone, so extra tickets, subscriptions etc. Vouchers or direct payments would be of no use to someone in their position or disability."
"it will impact disabled people unfairly"
"I do not support this proposal as it will impact disabled people unfairly who rely on pip wholly as a cash benefit, to spend it as they see fit on their own personal survival. To base awards on contribution towards costs, or rather having to justify your existence via costs receipts is humiliating, and a completely out of touch idea that will harm so many people. These are cuts dressed up as reform. Please look at Scopes disability “price tag”, and the additional costs that come with being Ill or disabled. Disability benefits cash should be increased to reflect this, not reduced or taken away."
"disguising massive cuts"
"Basing PIP awards on disability-related costs is a way of disguising massive cuts to PIP payments. Disability affects every aspect of a person's life, and its financial impact cannot be reduced to a limited list of evidenced expenses, such as equipment, transport, clothing or bedding. PIP should provide flexible financial support based on the impact of disability, not be redesigned into a system where people receive less money simply because their additional costs cannot be neatly itemised and proven."
"upsetting and humiliating"
"I already have to justify my disability related expenses to the council for funding towards social care. This means that someone who isn’t a medical professional and knows nothing about my conditions decides whether my costs are reasonable. It’s really upsetting and humiliating. Some of my costs are for treatments that I can’t get on the NHS and it’s hard to get those approved. It’s devastating to have to cut back on treatments that help you because they haven’t been approved. I imagine that this is exactly the system that PIP will use."