Today we attended a very informative drop in session by SCOPE in which we discussed disabled people’s experiences of benefits assessments in Feltham and Heston. I know from my work with MSHounslow and other disability groups that improving the experience of the benefits system for people with disabilities is urgently needed.

We heard further stories of constituents who had gone through a very arduous process to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It should not have been so difficult. At the very least, I support Scope’s calls to ensure that claimants to have the right to have an appropriate assessor. At the moment, claimants are appointed assessors who sometimes do not have an understanding of their conditions.

Thank you to Scope for holding this event and providing a useful insight into the struggles people with disabilities go through when seeking help. I will continue to work with Scope and other disability groups on getting the changes we need to see. If anyone has had such an experience they would be willing to share please email me at seema.malhotra.mp@parliament.uk