To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Supreme Court ruling of July 2019, if her Department will review the assessment criteria for personal independence payments for claimants with mental health illnesses that requires assessors to make a distinction between whether a claimant needs prompting to engage with other people or social support.

The Supreme Court handed down its decision on the case known as MM (SSWP v MM) on 18 July 2019. The case concerns the definition of ‘social support’ when engaging with other people face to face under activity 9 of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Regulations, and how far in advance that support can be provided.

The Department will carefully consider the judgment and work with stakeholders to implement it fully so that claimants get the PIP support they are entitled to. This will include reviewing and updating where needed the guidance used for PIP assessments.