MP Secures Important Support For Terminally Ill Patients

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, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, has welcomed the news that the Government will remove the ‘28 day rule’ for terminally ill claimants transferring from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reducing waiting times by more than 70 per cent.

At the moment, all claimants who move from DLA to PIP must wait 28 days after the decision has been made before they receive the new benefit. This means that terminally ill people, who are given a higher award, must wait almost a month before they start to get the extra money.

Graham met representatives from Macmillan Cancer Care in October last year. They raised concerns that disabled people were not getting the support they needed because of the ‘28 day rule’.

He then supported an amendment to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill in Parliament and spoke to the amendment during the debate at the report stage and third reading.

Graham followed up this action with a letter to the minister calling on the undertakings made during the debate to be implemented.

He then met with the minister in February. Following the meeting, the minister announced that he will be changing the PIP regulations for all terminally ill claimants receiving a higher award, with the changes coming into force on 4th April 2016.

Graham said:

“I am delighted that the government is going to ensure that terminally ill patients get the support they need, when they need it.”

“When someone is in the last few months of their lives, 28 days is far too long to have to wait for this vital support.”

“I support the government’s reforms to welfare which have helped to concentrate support where it is most needed.”

“Having established that terminally ill claimants are entitled to a higher payment, the government should pay them the extra money straightaway.”

“I pay tribute to Macmillan Cancer Care for their great campaign on this issue.”

Lucy Schonegevel, Public Affairs Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support said;

“We welcome the proposed change by government to amend the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) regulations so that terminally ill patients who move from Disability Living Allowance to PIP no longer have to wait over 28 days to be awarded any additional payment.”

“We are really grateful to Graham and other MPs who raised this issue with Ministers and pressed the Government for action. The change will ensure that people with terminal cancer and other illnesses get speedy access to vital support when they need it most.”

Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People said:

“I am committed to ensuring that everyone gets the support they need – and in cases of terminal illness it’s clearly important that this support is received as quickly as possible.”

“That’s why as we continue to roll out PIP we will prioritise this group, and I am pleased to announce that we will be reducing the waiting time by more than 70 per cent – and ensuring that they gain entitlement within eight days of a decision.”



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