The cost of being overlooked: Learning disability and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Mencap’s new policy paper, supported by qualitative research Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think. from Cordis Bright, confirms what many people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. and their loved ones already know: people with a learning disability face significant and unavoidable extra costs.
Key issues identified in the Mencap research regarding PIP and the cost of living
Engagement with people with a learning disability is essential to ensure that assessments are fair, PIP payments are adequate, and that people with a learning disability, which is a lifelong condition, are treated with the dignity Dignity means you treat yourself and others well and with respect. and support they deserve.
Mencap key recommendations for the Government:
Ensure support adequately meets the unavoidable extra costs people with a learning disability face
- Review the adequacy of PIP using a ‘Standard of Living’ model based on real costs.
- Introduce a targeted energy social tariff for disabled and low- income Income is all the money you get from things like paid jobs and government benefits. households to address their disproportionately high energy costs.
Improve the assessment system
- Review PIP activity descriptors to accurately reflect the support needs of people with a learning disability.
- Ensure access to
Easy Read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
materials and
advocacy
Advocacy is when you get support to have your say.
support and improve
appeal
To appeal means saying you want someone to think about a decision again.
support and clarity around appeal
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
- Provide mandatory Mandatory means that something must be done. specialist training o learning disability for all PIP decision-makers (e.g., Oliver McGowan training).
Remove burdensome reassessments
- Exempt people with a learning disability from reassessments by including them in the Severe Disability Group.
Increase data transparency and accountability
- Publish disaggregated data on how PIP changes affect different disability groups.
- Introduce protections for those who may lose PIP under proposed government reforms.
Ismail Kaji
We aim to update our 'Change to the benefits system' webpage as and when we hear news about the changes to individual benefits.
We are talking to the UK Government to explain why benefits are important for people with a learning disability and how the system can better support you.
We are making sure people with a learning disability are heard so we would like to you to tell us your story so together we can tell the government The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work. what the changes would mean.
We understand that financial Financial means anything that is to do with money. It is used to describe how people, businesses, or governments get money and how they use it worries can be overwhelming, and our Learning Disability Helpline can help you explore practical support through our British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) money and energy caseworkers.
If you are struggling with your mental health, you may find our Mental health and wellbeing page helpful.