New calls to lower PIP points threshold to enable more people to qualify for up to £691 each month

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A new online petition is calling for the points system used to determine whether or not someone is eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to be revised to enable more people with health conditions to benefit from additional financial support of up to £691 every four-week pay period.

People making a new claim for PIP, or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland, must complete an evidence-based assessment form which asks a series of Daily Living and Mobility activity questions to measure how your disability, health condition or long-term illness affects your ability to perform these tasks on a day-to-day basis.

These responses are multiple choice and each answer - known as a descriptor - carries a points score ranging from 0 to 12. However, petition creator, Norrison Williams, is calling for the points threshold to be lowered, saying that some people are “falling short by just one or two points” and as a result, they are struggling financially.

The ‘Reduce the point requirements for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP)’ petition reads: “Reduce the amount of points required to qualify for PIP to six points for standard rate, and 10 points and over for the enhanced rate.