Lengthy delays and ‘illogical’ decision making continue to dog Dorset residents trying to claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Many end up taking their cases to appeal – where two-thirds win.

County councillors are now to write to the Secretary of State to complain about the process …pointing out that if so many appeals are allowed the decision making in the first place must have been flawed.

Anne Evans, the local research and campaign lead from the Citizens Advice Bureau, told the county council’s safeguarding committee on Thursday: “There are not so many issues with people having to travel to ridiculous venues to be seen now, but we are still suffering from very poor quality assessments…the evidence sometimes says one thing and the report says something else.

“Our client’s experience an assessment is not always reflected in the written report.”

She said one official report had claimed the person was ‘calm and relaxed’ when she had actually burst into tears and had taken several minutes to calm down.

CAB figures show that local people are now often waiting more than a year to go to appeal and when they do two-thirds win their case; “which illustrates poor decision making in the first place,” said Mrs Evans, “it’s very hard for our clients, who are all vulnerable, and need the money.”

Cllr Toni Coombs said “I have a resident in my area who has had multiple assessments, but no outcome. It has been backwards and forwards for over six months.”

The committee unanimously backed the idea of writing to the Secretary of State with an outline of the difficulties, with copies to local MPs.