Broken benefits system

 Taken from the final copy of the Big Issue North, a magazine I first began writing for in 2004. 

 Broken benefits system

 Chelsea Sowden says PIP assessments are flawed

A young, disabled working woman has criticised the Department for Work and Pensions for delays in paying the benefits she says she is entitled to.

Chelsea Sowden says she is not alone in waiting for her benefit payments because of delays in appeals against DWP decisions.

Sowden, aged 25, lives independently in Darlington. She has been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A social media officer, she struggles to walk. Although she can work from home, she bought a car to attend meetings in person after her previous employer was beginning to question whether she was able enough to work.

Her house, which she has bought, has a driveway for the car. “The vehicle was costly and the rise in petrol prices means it is expensive to run,” said Sowden.

When she first started work after completing her animation degree at university, Sowden was awarded a Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This helps people with extra living costs if they have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition.

People are entitled to PIP even if they are working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

“I need a cleaner to help look after my house,” said Sowden. “I exist almost entirely on convenience foods as I can’t stand up for too long, I can’t wash up and I can’t do many of the normal everyday tasks.

“When I was awarded the benefit, I could enjoy working knowing that I could have a good standard of life.”

In March 2021, Sowden was told her PIP was being discontinued as the DWP claimed she could walk further than she said. She appealed and two years later is still going through the process.

“I have had many tribunal dates,” she said. “Last November I had a face-to-face interview date but when I attended it was adjourned. They said some of the scan evidence was not readable.

“They would have known about this in advance. They could have informed me by email, preventing an unnecessary journey.”

Sowden questioned the DWP assessors’ reports on her condition.

 

“I feel the assessors often talk over you and try putting words in your mouth,” she said. “I hope that they obtain the kind of medical evidence that they need and there is a recognition of my chronic illness, which is sadly not going to get better.

“I need PIP to cover my extra costs as a disabled person and live as normally as possible.”

According to Linda Burnip of the Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) campaign, Sowden’s situation is mirrored nationally.

“The PIP assessments have always been very badly flawed, with around 70 per cent of those refused PIP initially winning the payments on appeal,” she said. “This figure alone shows just how inaccurate assessments are.

“PIP is an essential payment that supports disabled people. Due to repeated assessments and the lengthy delays people face when appealing against being refused these payments too many people just give up, as it is too stressful to claim even though they should be entitled to PIP.”

PIP is among a number of benefits that disabled people can claim to cover the additional costs resulting from being disabled. Others include Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC).

According to the charity Scope, in July-September 2022, there were 27,000 outcomes of appeals by disabled people against the refusal of a benefit claim. Of these, 19,440 decisions were made at a hearing and 61 per cent of these had the initial decision revised in favour of the claimant.

This overturn rate varied by benefit type, with DLA at 61 per cent, ESA at 53 per cent, UC 49 per cent and PIP the highest at 68 per cent.

Chloe Smith MP, minster for disabled people, did not respond to Big Issue North’s request for comment.

Vicky Foxcroft, shadow minister for disabled people, said: “These figures are a sign that benefits assessments are failing disabled people and need to be overhauled – something Labour has repeatedly called for.

“A future Labour government will work with disabled people to co-produce a benefit assessments system that works for everyone.”

MARK METCALF