BATLEY and Spen MP Jo Cox has welcomed news that Atos, which assesses people's eligibility for the replacement for disability living allowance, plans to open a new centre in Kirklees.
Mrs Cox tabled a parliamentary early day motion calling on the Work and Pensions Secretary to impress upon Atos the need for a personal independence payment assessment centre in Kirklees. Atos has written to Mrs Cox to say they are working on plans for a centre in Kirklees as part of a planned expansion.
At present, anyone being assessed for PIP, which replaces disability living allowance, has to travel to one of the centres outside Kirklees.
The Batley and Spen MP said: "Many of the people who claim PIP are among the most vulnerable, disabled and ill people within our society and many of them cannot reasonably spend up to three hours travelling in a day when summoned for an assessment."
"Kirklees has 440,000 residents but no assessment centre. I think anyone undergoing medical assessment should have appropriate and easy access to Atos and I am pleased they seem, at this stage, to be agreeing."
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