Proposed revision of PIP terminal illness definition welcomed

Findings from a review into the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process in Northern Ireland were published today (28 June). The review was carried out by independent expert Walter Rader, and recommended that the six month life expectancy criterion which is currently used to determine eligibility for the Special Rules for Terminal Illness under PIP be removed and replaced with a system based instead on clinical judgement.

Commenting on the findings of the review, Joan McEwan, Head of Policy and Public Affairs for Marie Curie Northern Ireland, said:

We are delighted that the independent review has recommended the removal of the six month life expectancy criterion for people applying for PIP under the terminal illness rules, in favour of a new model based on clinical judgement. We have long argued that the existing criteria is overly restrictive, unfair and excludes many legitimate claimants. The approach recommended in Mr Rader’s report is much more compassionate and would allow many more terminally ill people to get the help they need when they need it. We hope the Department for Communities will respond positively to Mr Rader’s recommendation and begin the preparatory work necessary to introduce the fairer system that Marie Curie and other stakeholders have been campaigning for.