The National Autistic Society has responded to the Government announcing a consultation into personal independent payments (PIP).
Joey Nettleton Burrows, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the National Autistic Society, said: “We are extremely concerned about the Government’s suggestion of restricting payments for people with ‘certain conditions’ such as ADHD and learning disabilities – both of which affect a significant number of autistic people.
“Reforms are desperately needed, but we are concerned that changes to personal independent payments (PIP) could have a detrimental impact on autistic people in receipt of it.
“Autistic people already face an unsuitable system in accessing the benefits they are entitled to – with only 19% of autistic people telling us that the location of their health assessment was suitable.
“Stricter rules won’t help, instead they are likely to take away a key source of income for autistic people who are unable to work or face numerous barriers to finding employment – currently only 3 in 10 autistic people are in work.
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“The Minister also outlined that for many people in receipt of PIP, talking therapies and social care should be the answer – but he fails to acknowledge that social care reform has been promised and yet this Government has consistently failed to deliver.
“We will respond to the PIP consultation and make our concerns clear that the current system is not suitable for autistic people and any proposed reforms must consider their needs.”
The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people. To find out more about the charity and autism, visit www.autism.org.uk. Follow the National Autistic Society’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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