Response to PIP assessment criteria trial

31 August 2011

Action for M.E. has submitted comments on the experiences of people with M.E. who volunteered to take part in the DWP's trial of the draft assessment criteria for the Personal independence payment (PIP).

Key comments made were:

• Questions asked were very general with regards to what activities the individual was able to complete. They did not delve into the specifics of M.E., not could they assess the true effects of fluctuating symptomson individual activities.
• Questions were not as detailed as those on the ESA assessment.
• Questions did not ask individuals to demonstrate what activities they could do, eg. stretching out an arm and lifting a plate.