Made to measure? An analysis of the transition from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment

ABSTRACT
As part of the government’s programme of welfare reform Personal
Independence Payment (PIP) is replacing Disability Living Allowance
(DLA) for people of working age. This will have a significant impact on
a wide range of disability benefit claimants. This article examines the
government’s rationale for replacing DLA with PIP, the key technical
differences between the two benefits and the role that disability
benefits can play in reducing poverty. The introduction of PIP has
led to considerable debate in the social welfare law sector about the
scope, purpose and assessment of social security benefits for the
disabled. These issues are explored with reference to the first Gray
Review of PIP (2014) and the United Nations Committee on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities Inquiry (2016) into the impact of the UK
Government’s policies on disabled people.