DWP responds to petition calling for type 1 diabetes to qualify for PIP

More than 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for type 1 diabetes to qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), prompting a formal response from the DWP.

The Government has addressed demands that type one diabetes should qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

An online petition, which has attracted more than 15,000 signatures, argues that type one diabetes is a ‘dangerous condition’ that typically does not meet the criteria for PIP.

Those living with type one diabetes could benefit from the financial assistance to purchase ‘helpful technology not provided by the NHS ‘ as well as cover ‘the demands of managing the condition’.

PIP is a disability benefit designed to support individuals who require assistance with daily living activities, particularly those of State Pension age seeking to maintain their independence at home, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The disability benefit does not consist of a single fixed amount but is instead split into two components based on how a claimant’s condition impacts their independence.

The petition, published on the Parliament Petitions website, has exceeded 10,000 signatures, triggering a Government response. Should it reach 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for parliamentary debate.

Creator Emily Jones said: “Type 1 diabetics do not usually qualify for PIP despite dealing with a dangerous condition 24 hours a day. We believe there is a general lack of understanding and education of Type 1 Diabetes which may affect PIP assessments.

“Managing Type 1 Diabetes is a relentless, 24-hour responsibility that requires frequent blood glucose monitoring, insulin adjustments, and careful planning around food, activity, and stress. When combined with the pressures of full-time employment, this can lead to significant physical exhaustion and mental burnout.

“We believe allowing more types 1 diabetics to receive PIP would provide financial support for helpful technology not provided by the NHS and support individuals to reduce working hours due to the demands of managing the condition.”

In response to the petition, the DWP stated that PIP is not condition-specific, and that claimants are evaluated by disability specialists who concentrate on functional requirements.

PIP employs a functional assessment to gauge the effect of a person’s health condition or impairment on their everyday life, rather than concentrating purely on the condition or impairment itself, it clarified.

The DWP said: “People can be impacted by health conditions in different ways, so PIP uses a functional assessment to measure the impact of a person’s health condition or impairment on their day-to-day life rather than focusing solely on the health condition or impairment itself.

“The assessment looks at an individual’s ability to carry out a series of key everyday activities which are fundamental to living an independent life, such as their ability to prepare, cook and eat food, dress and undress, make budgeting decisions, manage and monitor their health condition, engage with other people, and plan and follow journeys.

“The PIP assessment criteria were developed in collaboration with independent specialists in health, social care and disability, including disabled people, to ensure they accurately assess an individual’s needs.

“Health conditions may be physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive, or any combination of these, and the assessment was designed to take a comprehensive approach to disability, reflecting the needs arising from the full range of conditions. The activities within the assessment consider not only the physical barriers to completion of those activities, but whether someone needs prompting or supervision to do them.

“Health Professionals (HPs) who conduct PIP assessments are trained specialists in disability analysis, including how to assess the impacts of medical conditions on people’s day-to-day activities, as well as awareness training in a range of conditions, symptoms and disabilities.

“To support HPs in delivering informed assessments, HPs have access to a wide range of Core Training and Guidance Material (CTGM), which offer detailed clinical and functional information, including the potential risks and limitations of conditions such as Type 1 Diabetes.

“We recognise that, since PIP was introduced, there have been shifting trends in health and disability, as well in the workplace and wider society. The Government launched the Timms Review, the first ever full review of PIP and its assessment are fair and fit for the future.

“The Review is being co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts so that a wide range of views and voices are heard. The Review’s steering group, almost all of whom are disabled, are looking at whether the current assessment effectively captures the impact of long-term health conditions in the modern world. The Review will report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in autumn, with an interim update in summer.”