PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

That this House recognises the strain placed on community mental health services as demand for care outstrips capacity; is concerned that due to the complexity of the application system for personal independence payment (PIP) many people with mental health conditions depend on the support of mental health workers to complete their application forms, gather evidence, attend assessments and contest any appeals; calls on the Government to simplify PIP so that mentally ill people can access the support that they need and to alleviate the demands on mental health workers so that they can spend more of their time delivering essential care and support to a greater number of people.