Fifth of disabled have seen benefits halted in Shropshire

Almost a quarter of people in Shropshire have lost out on support, and nearly a fifth in Telford & Wrekin and Powys.

Since 2013, the Government has been moving claimants from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

In Shropshire, 24 per cent of claimants failed the assessment for PIP, while 23 per cent failed in Powys and 20 per cent in Telford.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), 6,271 people in Shropshire have applied to switch from DLA to PIP since it was introduced, and 1,482 of them were turned down.

In Telford, 5,493 people have applied, with 1,092 rejected after the face-to-face assessment.

And 3,523 people have tried to switch in Powys, with 809 of them told blocked.

Like DLA, the PIP is a tax-free, monthly benefit to help disabled people with the costs of living and transport.

Claimants can get a maximum of £83.10 for daily living costs and up to £58.00 if they have mobility issues or need help with getting around - a total of £141.10 a week at the highest level.

Many have been turned down after an initial face-to-face interview, but hundreds of others across the region have been turned down for missing their interview or not sending in the correct form on time.

Charity Scope said that many disabled people are "losing out on vital support" under the new system, which it says is beset with problems.

A spokesperson said: “It is deeply worrying that so many disabled people are losing out on vital support when being reassessed for PIP.

"The entire system needs to be much more focused on the needs of the individual.

"With record levels of appeals against decisions successful, the whole decision making process is beset with problems."

In 2017, a survey by Disability Rights UK found that many claimants thought that the face-to-face assessment was "a punishing and traumatic process".

Survey respondents said that assessors were "ill-informed and not suitably knowledgeable of the disability they are preparing to assess".

The DWP said that under PIP, 31 per cent of successful applicants get the maximum rate, compared to 15 per cent under DLA.

A DWP spokesperson said: “PIP is a fairer benefit, which takes a much wider look at the way an individual’s health condition or disability impacts them on a daily basis.

"Therefore someone claiming DLA is not automatically entitled to PIP.

“We’re committed to ensuring that disabled people get the support they need, which is why we’re spending nearly £53 billion this year on benefits to support them – a record high."

Across England, more than three million people lost their disability benefits after applying for PIP.