Experiences of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessments
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments from the perspective of individuals seeking therapy for trauma: a Trauma-Informed Care Framework analysis.
IRAS ID
282969
Contact name
Andrew Gumley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 5 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
This study aims to understand individuals experiences of attending Personal Independent Payment (PIP) assessments, specifically those who are currently receiving psychological therapy for trauma-based difficulties. There has been increased media attention on the changes to the benefit system as a result of cuts under austerity, including PIP assessments, and the impact this has on peoples wellbeing. There has also been an increased awareness of the prevalence and impact of experiencing trauma, and making public services feel safer for survivors of trauma. This research hopes to understand if the principles of Trauma Informed Care (TIC) can be applied to individuals experiences of attending a PIP assessment in Scotland. It is hoped this research will contribute to the evidence base for the application of TIC in broader public services, as well as giving a voice to individuals’ experiences of the benefit system.
The primary aim of the study is to understand the extent to which participants’ experiences of attending a PIP assessment can be made sense of in the context of the TIC framework. There are two secondary aims: to identify what other experiences participants describe that are not captured by the TIC framework. Secondly, to establish the limitations of the framework for understanding participant’s experiences. A qualitative Framework methodology will be used, semi-structured individual interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Between 10-16 participants will be recruited from NHS Mental Health Teams in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lanarkshire health boards. Participants will be adults who are receiving therapy for trauma-based difficulties, who have attended a PIP assessment. Framework analysis will be used to map initial interview themes onto the TIC framework. Inductive thematic analysis will then be used to identify other experiences that are not captured by the framework but emerging from the data.
Summary of Results
Background: People who claim benefits in the UK may experience feelings of shame and humiliation, made worse by austerity measures (Garthwaite, 2014). Personal Independence Payment (PIP) replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in 2013, with the new benefit being more difficult to get. People who have a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have described the process as being distressing and panic-inducing (The Guardian, 2016). While Trauma Informed Care (TIC) was developed to help public services better support people who have experienced trauma (Harris & Fallot, 2001), at present there is little research into TIC in the benefit system.
Aims: The study aimed to understand to what extent people feel that the process of PIP assessment fits the principles of TIC. It also aimed to find out more about people’s experiences of claiming PIP after they have been through trauma.
Methods: Twelve people who had experienced trauma were interviewed about their experience of attending a PIP assessment. Interviews took place between February – May 2021. Participants were all over 18 years of age, were attending therapy in NHS services for trauma-based difficulties and had attended a PIP assessment in the last three years. A method called framework analysis was used to make sense of the findings.
Main Findings and Conclusions: People’s experiences were found to be the opposite of the principles of Trauma Informed Care. An alternative framework was created, which captured what they described. The five themes that made up this alternative framework were: harm, distrust, rigidity, intimidation and powerlessness. These results suggest that attending PIP assessments can be re-traumatising to claimants and could make their mental health worse. Further research is needed to explore how things could be improved.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
20/WS/0161
Date of REC Opinion
17 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion