This month DPAC ran two articles , one on PIP being
sanctionable evidenced through a DWP Freedom of Information request (FOI)
response http://dpac.uk.net/2014/01/how-can-pip-be-sanctionable/
(we put our own FOI in on this on the day) and the other on DWP information of
cuts to the benefit cap for couples without children
The PIP being sanctionable issue had a lot of attention – how
could they possibly do this? Kate Green responded to DPAC on Twitter, after
asking questions and obtaining info and documents from the Parliament library to
say PIP wasn’t sanctionable, other MPs said they would raise questions on this.
John Pring of DNS News also contacted the DWP and their view was PIP wasn’t
sanctionable. But we were all confused, none more so than the DWP, it seems. On
23rd January the DWP issued an apology ( yes really: an apology) and
said they had made a mistake: PIP is not sanctionable https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/192913/response/474265/attach/html/3/WDTK%20FOI%20194%20correction.pdf.html
We are still not entirely clear how PIP fits in with
‘withdrawal of benefits’, linked benefits to PIP and other puzzles set up by
minsters and the DWP which it appears that the DWP themselves cannot properly
follow either.
The second story on the benefit cap information and its cut
was also clarified by DWP –they didn’t apologise this time, but again they got
it wrong! The cap wont be cut, at the moment anyway.
We are all trawling through these cuts they call reform, and
its difficult enough, given 2 cock ups in 3 weeks by the DWP, plus all those
emails that DPAC gets through its mail box from people whose lives are affected
by DWP incompetency-we ask: are the DWP falling apart at every level? If so UNUM
will be pleased
