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PIP: Stormont gives 'commitment' no-one will lose out from review, says SDLP's Nichola Mallon

SDLP deputy leader and North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon. Picture by Bill Smyth
SDLP deputy leader and North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon. Picture by Bill Smyth SDLP deputy leader and North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon. Picture by Bill Smyth

AN MLA says she has received a "cast iron commitment" from Stormont civil servants that no-one will lose out from a review of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) cases.

The Department for Communities (DfC) last week confirmed officials are working to amend laws on PIP, which is gradually replacing the old Disability Living Allowance.

It follows a High Court ruling in Britain in December that said changes to PIP were "blatantly discriminatory" to people with mental health conditions.

DfC said it is liaising with Britain's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to amend the relevant legislation.

It will also be carrying out a review of all affected PIP cases. This will not involve face-to-face assessments and will "mirror" a similar DWP review.

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon welcomed a briefing with DfC officials following the announcement.

"At a meeting with the Department for Communities I secured the cast iron commitment that no-one will lose out as a result of the new PIP review following the High Court ruling," she said.

"The department also assured me that no claimants will have to undergo reassessment, instead the review will be a paper exercise.

"This will bring relief to the thousands of vulnerable people here who rely on PIP and have already gone through the anxiety and stress of an assessment."

The North Belfast MLA branded PIP "fundamentally flawed", and said she has written to the secretary of state "urging that legislation is brought forward immediately so that the review can begin here as quickly as possible".