Proposed Government Changes to Personal Independence Payments: 4Sight Vision Support Needs Your Input
4Sight Vision Support (4SVS) is supporting a campaign by the Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) to raise awareness of Government proposals for changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) for disabled people, which it believes will disproportionately affect those living with sight loss. TPT works to improve opportunities of blind and partially sighted people, and wants to make as many people as possible aware of the changes, and encourage maximum participation in the Government’s consultation process.
PIP is a benefit to help pay for the extra costs of living with a long term health condition or disability. The PIP assessment process is not intended to determine a person’s capability to do any work, it is to understand the extra costs the person experiences as a result of their disability.
Some of 4SVS and TPT’s key concerns are the proposed changes to the criteria and questions that determine whether someone is eligible for PIP; requiring a formal diagnosis by a medical expert and focusing much more on what condition you have, rather than its impact on your life; and ending the PIP assessment altogether for people with certain long term conditions. Details of the proposed changes can be found at www.pocklington.org.uk/news-and-events/ with a link to the full PIP page, including access to the Government’s Consultation page. The Consultation period closes on 22nd July.
Kirstie Thomas, CEO at 4Sight Vision Support commented, “We are well aware of the many and varied challenges faced by those our charity supports and are extremely concerned that the proposed changes would greatly increase the difficulties and additional costs our clients face in their daily lives. We encourage everyone to contribute to the debate.”
Further information is also available from 4Sight Vision Support, email enquiries@4sight.org.uk or call 01243 828555.
