PIP changes will cost thousands, says charity for disabled people

A DISABILITY charity in Nottingham says it needs to raise thousands of pounds so it can train staff in debt advice after proposed changes to 'lifeline' benefits has left its members 'panicking.

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, announced the changes as part of DWP welfare reforms drawn up in a bid to help get people back into work.

The measures, which will tighten eligibility for Personal Independent Payments (PIP), have been criticised by campaigners and charities, who say some of the most vulnerable will miss out on lifeline payments.

The PIP payments can help with extra living costs for people with a long-term physical disability or mental health condition. They can also help people if they have difficulty doing everyday tasks or to get around because of a condition.

Charlotte Throssel is the chief exec of Disability Support, a Nottingham charity which helps people apply for benefits and supports their needs.

"She says the changes to disability benefits will either indirectly or directly affect 100% of the people who rely on the charity.

"If the plans go ahead, we know not everybody is going to lose their benefits but there's a knock-on effect," she said. "The person they are caring for may lose their PIP, and then the carers allowance automatically goes.

"People are going to be coming in for reassessment for the next year - we don't know if these rules are going to affect them. We've got people really panicking".