More must be done to ensure assessors carrying out Personal Independent Payment assessments are making the right decision first time, an MP has said.
Too often people have to appeal and the decision is overturned, Shipley MP Philip Davies said.
Speaking in the Commons as new Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey addressed MPs over the recent High Court judgement on judicial review against PIP regulations, Mr Davies said: “I very much welcome the fact that we are spending more money on people with disabilities than the last Labour government.
“Will she look at measures to try and help the decision making on PIP be right the first time. For too many cases the decision is not made right the first time and I hope that is something she will look at urgently.”
In December the High Court ruled that changes to PIP which affected those with reduced mobility due to “psychological distress” were unjustifiable and Ms McVey said Government will not challenge the decision.
Ms McVey said: “Considering all sides of the House are meant to be supporting the decision, if you listen to the tone and the noises coming from the opposite benches you wouldn’t actually believe that.
“However he raises an equally fair point about getting decision making right first time, helping the decision makers get that right, there was an independent review and we will be taking that advice on board.”