The Government is planning to increase face-to-face assessments for benefits such as Personal Independence Payments – here’s the latest from the DWP
An update has been provided over PIP assessments(Image: Getty Images/E+)
The Department for Work and Pensions has provided an update for PIP claimants over face-to-face assessments. The DWP has admitted it is struggling to recruit and retain staff who carry out health and disability benefit assessments as it pushes ahead with plans to increase face-to-face checks.
In a letter to the Work and Pensions Committee, Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said recruitment and retention “remain challenging” due to competition in the wider healthcare labour market. The update comes as the DWP aims to increase the proportion of in-person assessments to around 30 per cent, as part of a wider shift away from phone and video appointments.
Benefits affected include Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), where assessments play a key role in deciding eligibility. The Government said that in some cases a face-to-face assessment can provide a more accurate picture of a claimant’s condition. This comes as ChronicleLive outlined all the new PIP rates after a benefit payment rise in April this year.
The latest update over face-to-face assessments raises questions about whether the system has the capacity to cope with the change. Sir Stephen Timms said the DWP is working with assessment providers to improve recruitment, training and the overall working environment for staff.
Health professionals carrying out assessments are often drawn from nursing and other clinical roles, meaning providers must compete with the NHS and private healthcare employers. The department said it is building capacity in a “managed and sustainable way”, suggesting the move to more in-person assessments will be gradual.
Despite the pressures, ministers insist the 30 per cent target remains “an achievable goal”, reports the Daily Record. Before the pandemic, most disability benefit assessments were carried out face-to-face, but this dropped sharply during Covid as services moved online.
The Government has since been shifting back towards in-person checks, arguing they can improve decision-making in some cases. But campaigners have previously raised concerns about the stress and accessibility challenges that face-to-face assessments can bring, particularly for people with serious health conditions or mobility issues.
The DWP says a mix of assessment types will remain in place, with phone and video appointments still used depending on individual circumstances. For claimants, the changes could mean a greater chance of being asked to attend an in-person assessment as the system continues to evolve.
When a person applies for PIP, they might be invited to an assessment with a health professional if more information is needed. They’ll ask about:
- how your condition affects your daily living and mobility tasks
- any treatments you’ve had or will have
They might ask you to do some simple movements to show how you manage some activities. The assessment can take place at an assessment centre, at your home, over the phone or by video call. More information about the application process can be found here.
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