Experiences of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on people with sensory loss

RNIB

 

Thomas Pocklington Trust

 

sense

Timeframe
2014 - 2015
Contact us
Graeme Douglas
Email g.g.a.douglas@bham.ac.uk

As part of UK government’s welfare reforms (Welfare Reform Act 2012), from April 2013, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has begun to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64. Over the coming few years there will be a staggered introduction of PIP (and it will eventual completely replace the DLA).

We wish to understand the impact of the specific DLA to PIP policy change, both in terms of the experience of claiming PIP (including the assessment procedure) and any changes in relation to the benefit received (in relation to both care/daily living and mobility components) and how it is used e.g. access to goods and services.

This year long project funded by RNIB, the Thomas Pocklington Trust, and Sense explores the experiences of the policy change for people who have a visual impairment or a dual sensory impairment (deafblind). We are interested in understanding:

  • Changes in the assessment procedure
  • Changes in the award levels
  • The uses and importance of benefits relating to disability
  • The impact of these changes on wellbeing
  • Knowledge of benefits generally, and PIP specifically

The project has two phases. In phase one, through the use of questionnaires we will focus on the experiences of:

  • 16 - 25 year olds who have a visual impairment
  • deafblind adults with Usher syndrome
  • Appointees (usually parents/carers) applying for DLA/PIP on behalf of a young person
  • 16 year olds who have a visual impairment or dual sensory loss (and may or may not have additional disabilities)

In phase two of the project, using in-depth qualitative interviews, we shall draw out the experiences from a number of participants in the first phase of the project to provide detailed case studies on the experiences of PIP for people with a sensory loss.

Reports

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA): report based upon fourteen case studies of people with sensory impairments engaged in application for PIP (Word)

Researchers