08/04/2013

Changes To Disability Benefits Roll Out

Major changes to disability benefits are set to roll out today, but critics have claimed it will leave many worse off as a result.

New claimants in areas of northern England will now receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP) instead of the previous Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The new system will include face-to-face assessments and regular reviews. It is expected it will take at least two years to roll out across the rest of the UK.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has described the previous system as "ridiculous".

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "We've seen a rise in the run-up to PIP. And you know why? They know PIP has a health check. They want to get in early, get ahead of it. It's a case of 'get your claim in early'."

He added that detailed new health checks for claimants were "common sense".

However, charities have expressed concerns over the new reforms, saying 600,000 people will now miss out on support.

PIP will initially be introduce for new claimants in northwest England, Cumbria, Cheshire, northeast England and Merseyside.

(JP)

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