Department for Communities extends call for evidence period for second independent review of PIP in Northern Ireland

Evidence can now be submitted up to 16 October 2020, with a final report to be laid with the Northern Ireland Assembly by 11 December 2020

The Department for Communities has extended the call for evidence period for the second independent review of personal independence payment (PIP) in Northern Ireland.

Evidence for the second independent review - which is being carried out by Marie Cavanagh and is evaluating the progress made on the PIP claims process as a result of the longer-term recommendations made in the first independent review of the PIP assessment process in Northern Ireland - was due to be submitted by 20 April 2020.

However, in a tweet yesterday, the Department for Communities announced that - 

'As a consequence of coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on the evidence gathering process, the Department has approved a request from Ms Cavanagh to extend the call for evidence period to 16 October 2020, with the final report being laid with the NI Assembly by 11 December 2020.'

More information about the Second Independent Review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Process in Northern Ireland report is available from communities-ni.gov.uk