Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 104
We heard that PIP assessments can be particularly challenging for young people.
Recommendation
We heard that PIP assessments can be particularly challenging for young people. We recommend that young people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance should not be required to claim PIP until they are 18, as is the case in Scotland. Where under 18s decide to claim PIP, they should be given light-touch, paper-based assessments until they are 18. DWP should also ensure that in the development of an equivalent of severe conditions criteria for PIP, consideration is given to those moving from DLA, to ensure that young people whose conditions are unlikely to improve do not have to undergo repeated assessments when they move to PIP.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government response focuses on testing plans for the Severe Disability Group, feedback used to develop criteria, publishing UC WCA statistics, reviewing guidance for health professionals, testing sharing assessment reports, and exploring recording assessments; it does not address light-touch, paper-based assessments for under 18s and DWP ensuring consideration is given to those moving from DLA, to ensure that young people whose conditions are unlikely to improve do not have to undergo repeated assessments when they move to PIP.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
104
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
When PIP was designed, the Department consulted extensively on the age of transition from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and considered the needs and requirements of young people reaching age 16 and younger adults. The consultation highlighted the need to prevent this group falling through the welfare net by not claiming PIP and an appetite to encourage young people’s independence by managing their own financial affairs. The Department also set up a stakeholder group to specifically consider communications and messaging for these young people. The age 16 limit was chosen on the basis of three principal factors: children were previously reassessed for DLA at or around age 16, when most developmental milestones were reached, and adult rules were applied from that age; PIP assessment criteria were specifically developed to be appropriate for adults aged 16 and above with no need for age-related rules; and at age 16, many individuals are already very independent, and the Department wants to ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to lead a full, active and independent life. DLA and PIP have different entitlement conditions, so it is not possible to move claimants from DLA to PIP without an assessment. The Department will give consideration to those moving from DLA to PIP as it develops its testing plans for the Severe Disability Group.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗