Peter Grant, MP for Glenrothes and Central Fife, is encouraging any of his constituents who have been assessed for PIP and/or ESA to take part in a parliamentary inquiry currently underway at Westminster.

The Work and Pensions Committee has launched an inquiry into the effectiveness of assessment processes used to determine eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Committee is seeking feedback from claimants who have undergone an assessment for either of these benefits or are waiting on one.

Commenting, Peter Grant MP said:

“I welcome this inquiry and urge any of my constituents who have been through the PIP or ESA assessment process to share their experiences with the Committee. I have had countless claimants approaching me for help after undergoing an assessment which is unsatisfactory at best and unprofessional and undignified at worst.

“Once the Scottish Government establishes the new Social Security Agency for Scotland they have committed to ending the use of private companies for medical assessments, but in the meantime anyone claiming a health or disability benefit is subjected to the current assessment process.

“This inquiry should help bring to light the inadequacy of the current process, but it will only reflect the reality of the situation if people who have first-hand experience share this with the Committee. Evidence can be submitted easily online but this must be done before the 10th November deadline.”

Evidence can be submitted via the Work and Pensions Committee website: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/pip-esa-assessments-17-19/