New figures show extent of PIPS assessments locally

10,000 people in the Omagh area are currently going through the process to receive controversial Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).

 

The figures released by the Department for Communities, and covering up until November 2020, also show that the vast majority of these people (7,630) are currently awaiting re-assessments.

 

There were also 2,380 new claims submitted by people in the Omagh area, representing five per-cent of the overall total for the North.

 

The PIPs re-assessment process has come under fire from Omagh town Sinn Féin councillor, Barry McElduff, who said that hundreds of local people currently awaiting appeal hearings have now had their payments suspended for almost a year.

 

He described the PIPs assessment process as ‘fundamentally flawed’ and says it has pushed vulnerable people into poverty.

 

“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have seen the use of telephone assessments which can be very intimidating for people who might then ‘say anything’ to end the call as quickly as possible,” Cllr McElduff stated.

 

“It has become clear that this is making life even more difficult for many claimants, not least people who suffer anxiety and depression, and only compounds the emotional stress that many are experiencing.”

 

Cllr McElduff has called on the Department for Communities to provide greater funding for local independent advice services to provide support for people in terms of advocacy.