A FATHER fighting cancer had to wait five months to be given financial support he was legally entitled to.

It is one of a number of case studies outlined in a damning report setting out the difficulties of people across Dorset claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Dorchester, Sherborne and District Citizens Advice have produced the report following an investigation into the issue – which has been published as councillors are set to hear a plea to take action.

Those affected are among the most vulnerable in Dorset, and some have been so badly let down they are considering suicide, according to the report.

Cllr Pauline Batstone, Dorset County Council’s spokesman for diversity, is hoping to persuade councillors to back a motion to write to the secretary of state for work and pensions, David Gauke, and urge him to review how people are assessed for PIP.

The Citizens Advice report outlines how there are ‘unacceptable delays’ throughout the whole process, how people with physical and mental illnesses have been forced to travel long distances to attend medical assessments and how vulnerable people have had genuine claims turned down – only to have the decision overturned months later on appeal.

One woman was turned down for PIP despite having had two spells as an in-patient in a psychiatric hospital in the previous three months. Only when Citizens Advice submitted an official complaint about the poor quality of the assessment was the decision overturned and her PIP was approved.

Another woman, known only as Jane, who is on the autism spectrum and suffers from depression and claustrophobia, was told a medical assessment would be done at her home, causing her to panic and say she would ‘go and hang herself’ if a stranger came to her house. Again, Citizens Advice intervened and it was agreed a paper assessment would be carried out.

Cllr Batstone said it was a ‘cross-party’ initiative, with the notice of motion backed by Westham county councillor David Harris.

She said: “We have a responsibility for the well-being of people living in our county and when something like this, from another agency, impacts them, we have a responsibility to raise it. It’s very difficult for people to get what they perceive as a fair assessment.

“I want the support of my fellow councillors in raising this directly with the secretary of state.”

Ann Evans, advice services manager at Dorchester Citizens Advice, said it is difficult to know the scale of the crisis, as many people do not approach the charity for help.

She added: “We are dealing with vulnerable people with disabilities who rely on benefits to retain some sort of independence. These are people who are less able to stand up for themselves and we have to do that for them.”

The issue will be discussed at a full Dorset County Council meeting at County Hall in Dorchester today.

A DWP spokesman said: “We are committed to processing PIP claims as quickly as possible, while ensuring we have all the evidence we need to make the right decisions. Around 78,000 claims are processed each month.

"We continue to balance making a decision quickly with getting the right evidence to support a decision

"The PIP process is continuing to work effectively with people waiting eight weeks on average for an assessment.

"Under PIP 28 per cent of claimants receive the highest possible support, compared with 15 per cent under DLA.

"Since PIP was introduced, almost 2.5 million decisions have been made, of these just eight per cent have been appealed and three per cent overturned."

What is PIP?

PERSONAL Independence Payments (PIP) replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA), with claimants having to submit new applications.

It is paid to help people with an illness, disability or mental health condition cope with everyday life, including those with terminal illnesses.

The report is based on 54 cases of people who requested help from Citizens Advice in Dorchester, Sherborne, or the wider districts, with some element of PIP.

During the investigation, which ran from September 1, 2015 to April 29, 2016, 22 of the 54 claimants received a payment. Of these, only two cases were described as ‘straightforward’ by Citizens Advice. Of the other cases, eight payments were made after ‘unacceptable delays’, and 11 were made after appeals or reconsideration processes.

The report calls on the Department of Work and Pensions to review its criteria for awarding the benefit, to ensure there are enough trained staff to process claims, to use healthcare professionals who are appropriately trained, to provide sufficient assessment centres and undertake home visits when necessary and to take more account of medical evidence.

It concludes: “The seeming reluctance of DWP staff […] suggests an attitude that is inappropriate when dealing with sick and disabled people.”