I used to work as an assessor for personal independence payments (Pip). One day, I visited a gentleman who was terrified of losing his Pip. Despite his fear, he offered me tea, but only had a tiny amount of milk in his fridge. He was ashamed and started to cry. I called the local food bank to help him.
Now, I am an occupational therapist. On my to-do list is an appeal letter for a patient with Huntington’s disease, a complex, incurable condition. He scored zero on his Pip assessment, yet his neurological apathy and cognitive impairment affect his daily function. Proposed welfare cuts by Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall (Report, 26 March) will severely impact his access to vital support.
