Labour disability minister Sir Stephen Timms is set to lead a review of the process used to assess people for personal independence payments (PIP) – a key disability benefit worth up to £800 a month.
But panel members have been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), raising fears among PIP claimants that Labour’s benefit changes will be designed “in secret”.
Timms has promised “co-production” with disabled people and disability rights groups so they are involved in helping shape the shake-up.
Mr Cole – who suffers from bipolar disorder and a series of physical conditions – said he hoped promise of co-production meant disabled people “actively shape” the changes to PIP.
Jamie Cole, a 47-year-old PIP claimant from Yorkshire, is worried by PIP reviewMr Cole said disabled people were still worried that the PIP spending cuts ditched in the summer “could be reinstated down the line” depending on “review conclusions or political shifts”.
But the Government has said “expertise and insight” will be shared between the advisory body and the PIP review process.
He said the gagging order was a “bad sign” for the PIP review. “It is not the way to build trust. You can’t do co-production under a veil of silence and secrecy,” said Erhardt.
square BENEFITS I use PIP to help pay my rent - I've been made redundant and don't know how I'll cope
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But a June rebellion by Labour backbenchers forced Keir Starmer to pull PIP from his benefit cuts until Timms’ review takes place.
The i Paper has previously reported on the “horrific” system used to decide on PIP claims.
Disability rights groups have called for a less adversarial process in which benefit assessors take time to get more detailed information from medical specialists.
Murray Goulder has been hospitalised several times for repeated seizures
He added: “I worry it could be just another way to redesign the PIP system in secret, to make the system even more difficult than it needs to be, whilst covering the tracks.”
Timms recently told BBC podcast All Access that he envisaged “a fairly small group” of ten disability experts will work him on the PIP review.
DWP spokesperson said the IDAP group of experts – separate to the PIP review – was “just one of the ways we’re putting the views of disabled people at the heart of our decision making”.
Asked about the NDA, the spokesperson said: “To enable meaningful conversations, we may need to share sensitive information or information that is not in the public domain during discussions.”
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