PIP applicant with Parkinson’s ‘would moderately die than face reassessment’
EXCLUSIVE: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted to the Daily Star that they were ‘sorry to hear about this person’s negative experience’ when questioned
A Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimant with Parkinson’s has said he “would rather die” than face another benefit review. PIP is a welfare scheme aimed at helping cover the costs associated with mental and physical conditions.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) carried out stringent reviews to ensure the non-means tests benefit matches the claimants level of disability. Figures released in April revealed a staggering £330m was lost to fraud and error in the PIP system last year, marking a significant jump from £90m in 2023/24.
James Merrell, who helps people through the PIP application process, told the Daily Star some of his clients are made to feel like “criminals”. He said: “The people I support are not outliers they’re ordinary individuals with extraordinary struggles: lifelong, degenerative, or fluctuating conditions that already take so much from them.
“And yet they’re being treated as if they’re trying to cheat the system, as though asking for basic support is something shameful. The PIP process is supposed to recognise need. Instead, it makes people feel like criminals for being unwell.
“I’ve had clients come out of assessments shaking, crying, and humiliated one of my clients told me, ‘I felt like I was on trial for being sick when its outside of my control’.
He added: “Another man with advanced Parkinson’s said he’d rather die than go through another review. These are people who worked hard, contributed all their lives, and now find themselves interrogated, doubted, and diminished.
“The emotional and physical toll is staggering. I’ve seen anxiety and depression skyrocket because of reassessments.”
The boss of CWS Limited added: “I’ve seen chronic conditions worsen from the stress. People relapse. They lose weight. They stop engaging with care.
“Every ‘invitation to review’ triggers a spiral of fear not because their needs have changed, but because they know the system will make them fight to prove it all over again when in reality the DWP know there function isn’t going to improve.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear about this person’s negative experience. PIP reviews ensure that payments accurately match the current needs of claimants, and the process is designed to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
“Disabled people will be at the heart of the first ever full review of PIP to make sure it is fit and fair for the future, following the appointment of two co-chairs, and the launch of a recruitment process for its wider steering group.”
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