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| Disability benefits: Court to rule on delay test case | Disability benefits: Court to rule on delay test case |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The High Court is expected to rule later on whether the government took too long to process benefit claims by two disabled people. | The High Court is expected to rule later on whether the government took too long to process benefit claims by two disabled people. |
| The unnamed pair waited nine months for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs), and they say this left them dependent on loan sharks and food banks. | The unnamed pair waited nine months for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs), and they say this left them dependent on loan sharks and food banks. |
| They claim the delay was unlawful. | They claim the delay was unlawful. |
| During the test case, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) argued that it took prompt action when delays in processing claims were identified. | During the test case, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) argued that it took prompt action when delays in processing claims were identified. |
| Labour and several charities have criticised the government for the way it handled the switchover to PIPs, which began replacing Disability Living Allowance in 2013. | Labour and several charities have criticised the government for the way it handled the switchover to PIPs, which began replacing Disability Living Allowance in 2013. |
| According to the DWP, there are currently 78,700 outstanding claims made by people waiting to hear whether they are eligible for a PIP. | According to the DWP, there are currently 78,700 outstanding claims made by people waiting to hear whether they are eligible for a PIP. |
| Of these, at least 3,200 people have waited more than a year to have their claims processed, and 22,800 have waited more than 20 weeks. | Of these, at least 3,200 people have waited more than a year to have their claims processed, and 22,800 have waited more than 20 weeks. |
| 'Completely isolated' | 'Completely isolated' |
| The claimants in the test case said delays meant they struggled to pay for food and fuel, and this caused their health to decline. | The claimants in the test case said delays meant they struggled to pay for food and fuel, and this caused their health to decline. |
| Their lawyers said they had a right to the benefits and should have received them within a "reasonable time". | Their lawyers said they had a right to the benefits and should have received them within a "reasonable time". |
| One of the claimants, who suffers from ME and severe depression, said she was "completely isolated" during her wait for payments. | One of the claimants, who suffers from ME and severe depression, said she was "completely isolated" during her wait for payments. |
| The DWP argued the delays were unacceptable but not unlawful, and said more than 800 extra staff were assigned to work on PIPs after problems emerged. | The DWP argued the delays were unacceptable but not unlawful, and said more than 800 extra staff were assigned to work on PIPs after problems emerged. |
| Contractors processing claims also increased their staffing and made other improvements, it added. | Contractors processing claims also increased their staffing and made other improvements, it added. |
| What are Personal Independence Payments? | What are Personal Independence Payments? |
| PIPs are benefit payments to help people aged 16-64 with "some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability". | PIPs are benefit payments to help people aged 16-64 with "some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability". |
| They are available to employed and unemployed people, and claimants can receive £21.80 to £139.75 a week, depending on how their condition affects them. | They are available to employed and unemployed people, and claimants can receive £21.80 to £139.75 a week, depending on how their condition affects them. |
| This is determined by an assessment, and claimants are regularly reassessed, but government figures show more than 3,000 have been waiting for more than a year for their claims to be processed. | This is determined by an assessment, and claimants are regularly reassessed, but government figures show more than 3,000 have been waiting for more than a year for their claims to be processed. |
| From April 2013, PIPs began replacing Disability Living Allowance. | From April 2013, PIPs began replacing Disability Living Allowance. |
| This process is ongoing and the government says everyone who needs to switch to PIPs should have been contacted by late 2017. | This process is ongoing and the government says everyone who needs to switch to PIPs should have been contacted by late 2017. |