The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come under fire for allegedly denying Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to individuals with cystic fibrosis. New data reveals that over a third (38%) of cystic fibrosis patients who eventually receive PIP were initially rejected, sparking accusations of systemic failure.
Personal Stories Highlight Struggle
Ellie Griffin, whose son Zac has cystic fibrosis, shared her experience with The Big Issue. "Cystic Fibrosis impacts pretty much every part of the body. You’re dealing with your mortality all the time. It’s a question mark, right from a young age," she said. "I found with my kids, we did talk about life and death, from a very young age."
Charity Calls for Fair System
David Ramsden, chief executive at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, condemned the current system. "It’s vital that the government ensures PIP properly supports those living with chronic, lifelong conditions like cystic fibrosis," he said. "We need a system that is fair, fit for the future, and supports the health and independence of people with cystic fibrosis, a lifelong condition without a cure."
DWP Responds
A DWP spokesperson told The Big Issue that an initial PIP rejection is not always a mistake. "If a PIP claim is successful upon mandatory reconsideration or appeal, this does not necessarily mean they were incorrectly rejected the first time. Claims can be rejected for a number of reasons including a lack of suitable evidence," they said. However, they acknowledged the need for improvement: "We know PIP can be improved, which is why we launched the Timms Review, working with disabled people and their organisations to ensure the benefit is fair and fit for the future. We also opened a call for evidence last month so people can share their views on how the benefit should be reformed."
