PIP: Controversial changes delayed

Postponement of personal independence payments is labelled the 'latest example of chaos' by Labour

Iain Duncan Smith wants to end a 'ridiculous; system that gives disabled people lifetime awards. Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features

Ministers have delayed controversial welfare reforms for disability benefits with immediate effect in what Labour has described as the "latest example of chaos" at the Department of Work and Pensions.

They had been planning to introduce the new personal independence payment (PIP) this month, transferring claimants from the disability living allowance (DLA) when their circumstances change.

However, it will now be introduced at the discretion of the department "in a more gradual, controlled and manageable way" starting in Wales, East Anglia and the Midlands.

The system began for new claimants in April as Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, pledged to end a "ridiculous" system that gives people lifetime awards.

However, it has been strongly criticised by charities and disability rights groups for denying benefits from some groups and causing anxiety for many disabled people facing reassessment of their claims.

There have also been long-term concerns about the companies brought in to assess health claims, complaints that the system is unfairly weighted against people with health conditions that fluctuate, and criticism of the time it takes for appeals against decisions to be either upheld or rejected.

A spokesman for the department said it was always the case that most existing DLA claimants "will not be re-assessed until 2015 or later, after [the department] has considered the findings of the first independent review in 2014".

Mike Penning, one of the department's new ministers, revealed the changes in a written statement to parliament after officials found "that the end-to-end claiming process is taking longer than expected".

The department said: "The issue giving rise to the need for amending regulations only came to light at the beginning of October as a result of our ongoing analysis of the introduction of PIP for new claims and the processes supporting it.

"As a consequence, the department wants to deliver a more controlled and measured start to natural reassessment, due to commence from 28 October. The department has worked as quickly as possible to identify and develop a range of options to deliver this, together with the necessary clerical and technical processes to support the aim.

"These regulations bring forward the preferred option which allows the department to introduce natural reassessment in a more gradual, controlled and manageable way."

However, Rachel Reeves, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said the delay was the latest sign the government's welfare reforms were not going well under Duncan Smith.

"First the work programme, then the universal credit, and now the introduction of the personal independence payment – each failing to go to plan," she said. "The delivery problems we are seeing at the Department for Work and Pensions now risk descending into farce. But for thousands of disabled people who are already extremely anxious about the changes, this is no joke. Not only is David Cameron's government out of touch but it's increasingly incompetent."

Guardian