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<p>Entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is assessed on the basis of the
needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition
or disability itself. Award rates and their durations are set on an individual basis,
based on the claimant’s needs and the likelihood of those needs changing. Award reviews
allow for the correct rate of PIP to remain in payment, including where needs have
increased as a consequence of a congenital, degenerative, or progressive condition.</p><p>
</p><p>We recognise that attending a PIP assessment can be a stressful experience,
which is why we do not carry out face-to-face assessments where there is enough existing
evidence to determine benefit entitlement, whether on a new claim or on review. Where
there is sufficient evidence on which to make an assessment, the claimant will be
assessed on a paper basis. Where a telephone, video, or face-to-face assessment is
required, companions are encouraged to attend and can play an active role, which can
be particularly helpful for claimants with mental, cognitive, or intellectual impairments
who may not be able to provide an accurate account of their condition due to a lack
of understanding or unrealistic expectations of their ability.</p><p> </p><p>We announced
in the Shaping Future Support: Health and Disability Green Paper, that we will test
a new Severe Disability Group (SDG) so that those with severe and lifelong conditions
can benefit from a simplified process to access PIP, ESA and UC without needing to
go through a face-to-face assessment, or frequent reassessments. We will consider
the test results once complete to influence thinking on the next stages of this work.</p>
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