Disability Claimants Being Let Down By Stormont Deadlock - SDLP

SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Nichola Mallon has said that people in Northern Ireland with disabilities are being "sorely let down" by the current political deadlock.

It follows the response issued by the Department for Communities regarding the independent report of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Process by Walter Rader.

The Department opted to reject the recommendations it was given.

The north Belfast MLA explained that those affected have been waiting for five months, in desperate hope that the Department would heed their concerns, as highlighted by Mr Rader.

She said the recommendations were far from radical, but "sensible proposals aimed at bringing a greater degree of transparency and compassion to the PIP assessment process".

"The rejection of the suggestion of enhanced training for assessors is hard to fathom," she added.

"It is also unacceptable to simply dismiss the recommendation for removal of the arbitrary six month life expectancy rule because there is no Minister in place when the SDLP organised and submitted a letter of support for this change signed by all of the five main parties," the former Mayor of Belfast added.

She also called on the Department to carry out research to allow an incoming minister to implement this change urgently.

"No one with a terminal illness should have to spend the limited time they have left going through an intrusive face to face PIP assessment and waiting up to three months to know whether they will get a payment or not."

The heart of the situation, according to Mrs Mallon, is that people continue to be failed by the DUP and Sinn Fein who "after jointly handing welfare powers back to the Tories", allow vulnerable citizens to suffer while remaining locked in a political standoff.



(JG/CM)