A NEW benefit to help disabled people needs “radical” reform across the UK as nearly two-thirds of claimants who challenge awards are successful, Scottish ministers claim.
Scotland’s new Social Security Secretary Angela Constance said the Personal Independent Payment system is “deeply flawed” and is failing to treat people with dignity and respect as she vowed to reform it when it is devolved.
SNP ministers are currently consulting on a Scottish social security system with new powers, including over PIP, which is due to be devolved to Holyrood.
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In the meantime, Ms Constance said the UK Government should move to address a system that she claimed was failing. She was responding to the UK Government’s second independent review of how the assessment for PIP is working, led by Paul Gray, chairman of the Social Security Advisory Committee.
Ms Constance said: “It completely fails to treat people with the dignity and respect that, not only do they deserve, but they should have a right to expect from a system that was set up to help them.
“When we have powers over disability benefits, we will put dignity and respect at the heart of everything that we do.“In the meantime. I hope this second review will take on board the points we raised.”
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A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We introduced personal independence payment (PIP) to replace the outdated disability living allowance. PIP is a better benefit which is tailored to suit each individual’s needs.“We want to ensure people get the support they need and the independent review is part of our commitment to make sure the system is working as we intended.”
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