How many times should someone have to explain the same disability?

Yuliia Barsukova · Founder, Smile Optimistic Studio CIC

How many times should someone have to explain the same disability? One thing I’ve discovered while navigating the British support system is how much information a family has to provide. My daughter has an extensive medical history. Her conditions and the consequences of treatment are documented.

Yet we are now dealing with two separate processes: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit’s Work Capability Assessment. I understand that these assessments serve different purposes. But both require information about how her health affects her daily life. So we find ourselves gathering medical letters, completing forms and explaining the same difficulties again.

And I keep thinking: could this be simpler? What if, with the person’s informed consent, relevant medical evidence already provided to one service could be securely reused by another? Different assessments would still make their own decisions. But families might spend less time collecting the same documents and more time focusing on their health.

Surely, reducing unnecessary paperwork could benefit both applicants and the services assessing them.

A personal perspective by Yuliia Barsukova. This article is not medical or benefits advice.