The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a major update on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility, responding to a petition that has reached 15,245 signatures. The campaign, led by Emily Jones, calls for Type 1 Diabetes to be clearly included in PIP eligibility criteria, arguing the condition is debilitating '24 hours a day' and unfairly excluded.
PIP is a tax-free, non-means-tested welfare benefit for working-age adults, designed to help with extra living and mobility costs from long-term physical or mental health conditions or disabilities. Payments range from £121.20 to £778.40 every four weeks, tax-free, based on how a condition affects daily living and mobility needs.
Petition Demands Change for Type 1 Diabetes
The petition, created by Emily Jones, states: 'Amend standards for PIP to clearly include type 1 diabetics. Type 1 diabetics do not usually qualify for PIP despite dealing with a dangerous condition 24 hours a day. We believe there is a general lack of understanding and education of Type 1 Diabetes which may affect PIP assessments.'
It further explains: 'Managing Type 1 Diabetes is a relentless, 24-hour responsibility that requires frequent blood glucose monitoring, insulin adjustments, and careful planning around food, activity, and stress. When combined with the pressures of full-time employment, this can lead to significant physical exhaustion and mental burnout. We believe allowing more types 1 diabetics to receive PIP would provide financial support for helpful technology not provided by the NHS and support individuals to reduce working hours due to the demands of managing the condition.'
DWP Response: Functional Assessment, Not Condition-Based
The DWP responded that PIP eligibility is assessed based on functional capabilities, not specific conditions. The statement said: 'People can be impacted by health conditions in different ways, so PIP uses a functional assessment to measure the impact of a person’s health condition or impairment on their day-to-day life rather than focusing solely on the health condition or impairment itself.'
The assessment looks at an individual's ability to carry out key everyday activities fundamental to independent living, such as preparing, cooking and eating food, dressing and undressing, making budgeting decisions, managing and monitoring their health condition, engaging with other people, and planning and following journeys.
The DWP added: 'The PIP assessment criteria were developed in collaboration with independent specialists in health, social care & disability, including disabled people, to ensure they accurately assess an individual’s needs. Health conditions may be physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive, or any combination of these, and the assessment was designed to take a comprehensive approach to disability, reflecting the needs arising from the full range of conditions. The activities within the assessment consider not only the physical barriers to completion of those activities, but whether someone needs prompting or supervision to do them.'
Next Steps for the Petition
If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a parliamentary debate, forcing the DWP to defend its position and increasing pressure for change. Currently, the petition has 15,245 signatures.
