AQW 2674/16-21


Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Sinn Féin
North Belfast


Tabled Date: 08/09/2016
Answered On Date: 21/09/2016
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities (i) to detail the total number of claimants that will be transferred from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment; and (ii) to provide a breakdown of the qualifications of those conducting the assessments of Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment claimants.


Answer:
(i) Personal Independence Payment was introduced in Northern Ireland on 20 June 2016 and in addition to new claims for this benefit, all existing Disability Living Allowance working age claimants (aged 16 – 64), of which there are approximately 125,000, will be invited to claim Personal Independence Payment.
(ii) Capita Health and Wellbeing deliver the PIP Assessment Service on behalf of the Department. To date Capita have recruited 97 Healthcare Professionals which consists of 57 Nurses, 19 Occupational Therapists, 15 Physiotherapists and 6 Paramedics.
All Healthcare professionals must have the following qualifications and experience:-
They are an occupational therapist, nurse (level 1), physiotherapist, paramedic or doctor;
They are fully registered with the relevant licensing body (doctors must have a licence to practise);
They have no sanctions attached to registration unless they relate to disability;
They have at least 2 years post full registration experience.