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Bristol charity's campaign leads to benefit claims change | Bristol charity's campaign leads to benefit claims change |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A campaign led by a local charity has led to the government changing guidance on the assessment of benefit claims. | A campaign led by a local charity has led to the government changing guidance on the assessment of benefit claims. |
Bristol Law Centre (BLC) said claims were being determined on the strength of painkillers being taken. | Bristol Law Centre (BLC) said claims were being determined on the strength of painkillers being taken. |
It said existing guidelines led to claimants asking for stronger, potentially harmful, opioid medicines. | It said existing guidelines led to claimants asking for stronger, potentially harmful, opioid medicines. |
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it had updated its Personal Independence Payment (PIP) guidance "in line with expert medical opinion". | The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it had updated its Personal Independence Payment (PIP) guidance "in line with expert medical opinion". |
The Disability Benefits Consortium backed the two-year campaign for more than a year to press the government for a change in its guidance. | The Disability Benefits Consortium backed the two-year campaign for more than a year to press the government for a change in its guidance. |
BLC said its study showed assessors "routinely assumed" claimants were not in severe pain unless they were being prescribed powerful, opioid painkillers. | BLC said its study showed assessors "routinely assumed" claimants were not in severe pain unless they were being prescribed powerful, opioid painkillers. |
Dr Cathy Stannard, an NHS pain medicine specialist from Bristol, said GPs largely avoided prescribing strong painkillers in the long-term, as the harms usually outweighed the benefits. | Dr Cathy Stannard, an NHS pain medicine specialist from Bristol, said GPs largely avoided prescribing strong painkillers in the long-term, as the harms usually outweighed the benefits. |
However, "assessors fail to recognise" this and "penalise" patients following medical advice from their GPs to reduce opioids and other strong painkillers, she said. | However, "assessors fail to recognise" this and "penalise" patients following medical advice from their GPs to reduce opioids and other strong painkillers, she said. |
'Hugely demeaning' | 'Hugely demeaning' |
Andy King, Bristol Law Centre's benefits advisor, said thousands of claims for disability benefits were refused because of an overreliance on analgesics as a guide to pain levels. | Andy King, Bristol Law Centre's benefits advisor, said thousands of claims for disability benefits were refused because of an overreliance on analgesics as a guide to pain levels. |
He said it sent the wrong signal to claimants and encouraged them to ask GPs for stronger pain relief. | He said it sent the wrong signal to claimants and encouraged them to ask GPs for stronger pain relief. |
"It is hugely demeaning to be told that your pain isn't significant and there is an enormous cost to the taxpayer of so many appeals, most of which are successful," he said. | "It is hugely demeaning to be told that your pain isn't significant and there is an enormous cost to the taxpayer of so many appeals, most of which are successful," he said. |
The DWP said its guidance now made it clear the dosage of painkillers was not necessarily indicative of the severity of people's medical conditions. | The DWP said its guidance now made it clear the dosage of painkillers was not necessarily indicative of the severity of people's medical conditions. |
A spokesperson said: "The type and level of medication is just one of a number of factors taken into account when carrying out an assessment, which considers all aspects affecting a person's functional ability." | A spokesperson said: "The type and level of medication is just one of a number of factors taken into account when carrying out an assessment, which considers all aspects affecting a person's functional ability." |
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