Parkinson’s UK highlights failures in benefits system, leaving sufferers without adequate support.
Category: Health

People living with Parkinson’s are facing financial hardships due to a benefits system that is not equipped to understand their needs, a charity has warned. Parkinson’s UK has highlighted how many of those with the condition are “poorer than they should be,” accusing the government of failing to protect vulnerable individuals during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The charity’s latest report, which draws on research from over 3,000 respondents, revealed that 24% of those surveyed were struggling to cover basic costs, compared to 20% of the general population. Nearly 40% of people with Parkinson’s who reported financial difficulties said they were unable to afford essential items like food.

Sue Christoforou, Policy Manager at Parkinson’s UK, stated: “It’s appalling that due to a lack of support from the Government, people with Parkinson’s who are eligible for benefits designed to assist them are poorer than they should be. Cutting back on basic essentials is hugely damaging to their physical and mental health.”

The charity’s research also showed that individuals with Parkinson’s are 10% more likely to face inaccurate assessments for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) than other claimants. In 2023, Parkinson’s UK’s specialist benefit advisers helped overturn refusals and secure over £346,000 in previously unawarded entitlements for clients.

Parkinson’s UK’s analysis also highlighted that many benefit assessors do not have sufficient knowledge of Parkinson’s disease, with half of those surveyed in 2021 reporting that their assessors were unfamiliar with the condition. This lack of understanding, combined with the PIP requirement that symptoms must affect a person for at least 50% of the time to qualify for support, creates a barrier to adequate help.

The charity is urging the government to remove the 50% rule, stating that Parkinson’s symptoms fluctuate significantly, making it impossible to predict when or how severely they will manifest.

There has been a significant rise in inquiries from people with Parkinson’s seeking guidance on benefits, with over a fifth of calls to the charity’s helpline in 2023 concerning benefits and income maximisation. Between 2021 and 2023, visits to Parkinson’s UK’s online benefits information pages increased by 59%, with printed information requests doubling.

Christoforou added: “The cost-of-living crisis is not over, and avoidable poverty continues to have a profoundly negative impact on people living with Parkinson’s. The Government promised to protect the most vulnerable in January 2023, but a year later, this has not happened.”

Despite these calls for reform, there are no current plans from the Government to remove the 50% threshold for PIP. A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson responded: “We support millions of people with disabilities every year, and our priority is that they receive a supportive, compassionate service. Our disability assessors are qualified health professionals with access to condition-specific information on Parkinson’s disease.”

Parkinson’s UK is calling on the UK Government to act urgently to improve support for those living with Parkinson’s, ensuring that they are not left in avoidable poverty.