Newry MP welcomes investigation into PIP welfare benefits | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Newry MP welcomes investigation into PIP welfare benefits

Newry and Armagh MP Mickey Brady has welcomed the formal announcement that the Public Services Ombudsman is to begin an investigation into the administration of the welfare benefit PIP.

“For too long there has been serious public concern expressed about many aspects of PIP but particular concern has been highlighted about the way in which people are assessed for this benefit,” the local MP said.

 

 

“Many of those who have expressed their concerns have described their assessments for PIP as arbitrary.”

The local MP continued, “When Sinn Fein met with the PSO we called then for an investigation to be launched into how this benefit is being administered.

“We have raised these concerns with the Department for Communities on numerous occasions.

“It is quite clear and a matter of some concern that many decisions based on PIP assessments are simply inexplicable or justifiable. Indeed some highly publicised decisions have rightly caused public outrage.”

 

 

Commenting on the investigation Mickey said, “I believe that a new and objective investigation can only add to the body of evidence including that produced and previously published by the Independent Reviewer Walter Rader in June 2018 which highlighted serious concerns about how this benefit is assessed and administered.

“Mr Rader found that the process was viewed with ‘distrust and suspicion’. Mr Rader also found that ‘”the face to face assessment causes fear, stress and frustration”.

The Sinn Féin MP added, “I and indeed many others will look forward to this investigation into the PIP benefit.”

 

 

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=66917

Posted by on Jun 26 2019. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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