Consultations
DLS is regularly called on to participate in policy making consultations, the results of which often change the legal framework or the way in which public organisations work with disabled people.
Being run by and working for disabled people DLS holds a unique position in being able to effectively identify and represent the views of a wide range of its service users, which can lead to better policy.
DLS believes in the transparency and accountability of decision making and wants disabled people to have a stake in the development of policies that affect them.
This section will invite you to offer your opinions and comments on consultations in process. To be informed of when these pages become active please register your interest by sending an email to info@dls.org.uk
DLS PiP (Personal Independence Payments) Consultation Response.
The personal independence payment (PIP) replaces working age disability living allowance (DLA) from April 2013.
PIP will have many similarities with DLA. In particular it will have two components: a daily living component (which has similarities to the current care component) and a mobility component.
Part 4 of the Welfare Reform Bill 2011, currently going through Parliament, contains proposals to introduce PIP.
DLS has sent the following consultation response to the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions). The Disability Law Service understands the desire to simplify DLA and therefore the rationale for designing PIP so that it mirrors the points-based eligibility criteria used in ESA (Employment Support Allowance) and IB (Incapacity Benefit). However we are unable to understand a rationale for using such points-based method without also including the exceptional circumstances regulations which is included in both ESA and IB. We therefore request that an appropriate exemption is included for each component of PIP.
We also do not think that it is appropriate to place key sections of PIP in guidance rather than into the regulations (these can be evidenced at paragraphs 7.3 and 7.4 of page 44).
Finally we requested that the Secretary of State redraft the ‘Moving Around’ descriptor so that it clearly states how soon a person should be able to walk again after one of the set distances. We also request that the 50 metres descriptor is given 12 points and that the 50 to 200 metres descriptor is given 8 points.
DLS PIP Consultation Response (PDF)