The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared details of possible changes to face-to-face assessments and reassessment reviews for people with severe and lifelong health conditions claiming disability benefits.
Earlier this week, Conservative MP, Virginia Crosbie, asked the DWP about the “potential merits” of not requiring autistic people to undertake reassessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) “in the context of that condition not having a cure”.
In a written response, Minister for Disabled People, Chloe Smith MP, said that entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the “needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself”.
Ms Smith explained: “Award rates and their durations are set on an individual basis, based on the claimant’s needs and the likelihood of those needs changing.
“Award reviews allow for the correct rate of PIP to remain in payment, including where needs have increased as a consequence of a congenital, degenerative or progressive condition.”
However, the DWP minister added: “We announced in the Shaping Future Support: Health and Disability Green Paper that we will test a new Severe Disability Group (SDG) so that those with severe and lifelong conditions can benefit from a simplified process to access PIP, ESA and UC without needing to go through a face-to-face assessment or frequent reassessments.
“We will consider the test results once complete to influence thinking on the next stages of this work.”
The Health and Disability Green Paper explores how the welfare system can better meet the needs of disabled people and people with health conditions now and in the future, enabling people to live independently and move into work where possible.
How could DWP improve health assessments for PIP and ESA?
As a result of the Green Paper, the DWP is considering how assessments for health benefits can be improved and the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee recently closed a survey which encouraged people on PIP, ESA, and Universal Credit to share their experiences of the process.
In the online survey, which closes on June 1, 2022, the 'How could DWP improve health assessments for PIP and ESA?’, has a list of mixed open and closed questions, offering health benefit claimants the chance to give honest answers using their own words, which they may use when putting questions directly to DWP ministers.
The Committee will share some of the responses when it next meets with the DWP.
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