WILD CLAIMS
PLANNED cuts to personal independence payments (PIP) should help disabled and poorly people get off benefits, “get into work and stay in work”, according to work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall. But figures obtained by the
Eye
show that 510,000 PIP recipients are already
in
work – and the majority will lose the benefit under the plans.
PIP is not an “out of work” benefit. Rather, working-age disabled people who meet strict criteria get PIP of between £3,500 and £5,200 a year to help fund daily living needs. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) responded to the Eye’s freedom of information request with figures showing that out of 2.69m PIP claimants, 510,000 are already working, including in self-employment.