Government launches aids and appliances consultation

I’d still like to know more about those 105 cases:-

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/review_of_105_pip_cases_and_aids

I’d like to know about the other 400 that suddenly get mentioned in the response too if anyone fancies it.

I shall be lodging a complaint with the BBC after work today with regard to their explanatory article on the whole PIP kerfuffle which unquestioningly accepts the consultation line that PIP was mostly self-assessment.

Put my money where my mouth is a and lodged a complaint with the BBC about the uncritical repetition of the line that we needed PIP because DLA was mostly self-assessment and the suggestion that the Gray report said money wasn’t going where it should when it was in fact the DWPs own subsequent “investigation” that made that suggestion. Watch this space.

Well done Mike!

“Complaint Summary: Article repeats governments inaccuracies as fact.

Full Complaint: The article says “DLA was commonly based on self-assessment, whereas eligibility for PIP includes a test carried out by Atos or Capita on behalf of the government.” A complaint about the assertion re: DLA was upheld by the UK Statistics authority http://blogs.channel4.com/jackie-long-on-social-affairs/doubts-disability-figures/1187 in 2014 and the BBC are wholly irresponsible in repeating a discredited statistic without even mentioning it.

The article says “An independent review carried out for the Department for Work and Pensions found that “a significant number of people are likely to be getting the benefit despite having minimal to no ongoing daily living extra costs”. The Gray report said no such thing. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/personal-independence-payment-consultation-response-announced confirms that in fact “A subsequent review of cases by DWP health professionals identified that a significant number of people are likely to be getting the benefit despite having minimal to no ongoing daily living extra costs.”.

The article also says “The department says it reviewed a “number of cases” and in 96% of them the “likely ongoing extra costs of daily living were nil, low or minimal” - for example, because many of the aids and appliances which people are currently getting points for are provided free by the NHS and councils, or could be bought cheaply.” The BBC see no value at all in reporting that the “number of cases” was in fact 105 and is currently the subject of an FOI application (https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/review_of_105_pip_cases_and_aids) regarding methodology and detail. That number remains 0.002% of the numbers on PIP and the 35% of people getting PIP solely because of points scored for aids and appliances appears to be 37 people.

That is the story you should be printing. A massive benefit cut being justified on the back of 37 anonymous and likely very suspect cases.”

I think I erroneously stated 39 cases in the complaint but I have now more than demonstrated my WRO credentials by showing I can correct my own inept maths 😊

That’s fantastically well put Mike- thanks for sharing and do let us know what the response is.

Mr Finch - 22 March 2016 10:53 AM

I’d still like to know more about those 105 cases:-

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/review_of_105_pip_cases_and_aids

[What] methodology that was used to calculate the ‘likely’ extra costs of these claimants,
for example what was counted as a cost.

Answer:

DWP health professionals estimated levels of extra cost based on their professional
experience, following a review of all the relevant evidence held on departmental systems.

So essentially, they have no idea.