Marie Curie response to announcement on end of repeat PIP assessments for disabled pensioners
Comment published
Responding to Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd's announcement on the end of repeat PIP assesments for disabled pensioners, Scott Sinclair, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said:
“While this is a small step in the right direction, there are still major challenges facing terminally ill people who need social security support. Many will still have to go through a lengthy application process because fast-track access to benefits like PIP and Universal Credit is restricted to those with a medical prognosis of six months or less to live.
"Today’s announcement also does nothing to help those terminally ill people who are being forced to undertake work capability assessments and meet work requirements to continue receiving their benefits. We are urging the Secretary of State to remove the arbitrary six month rule governing fast-track access to benefits and deliver a fairer and more compassionate social security system for all terminally ill people”