DWP shares new plans for future disability benefit assessments in response to PIP petition

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An online petition proposing that people with certain medical conditions should not be required to attend a health assessment for health-related benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has received an official response from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The petition, which has received more than 26,800 signatures of support, was created by Ray Vanderahe, suggests that PIP assessments should be based “solely on evidence from medical professionals, such as a letter from a GP or consultant”.However, the DWP response explains how assessments are necessary to ensure people claiming certain benefits are getting the right amount of support and indicated that the more relevant information provided from the start of an application, the reduced need for a Health Professional to seek this out at a consultation - in person, over the phone or by video call.DWP said: “Whenever it is possible to assess a claimant on the basis of paper evidence alone, we will do so.

Increased use of paper assessments is also helping to reduce waiting times.”DWP goes on to say how it wants to “test a new Severe Disability Group so that some people can benefit from a simplified process without needing to complete a detailed application form or go through an assessment.”It added: “We will work directly with disabled people and people with health conditions to develop and test the approach.

This will ensure that it delivers the desired improvements.”The DWP response to the petition reads: “The Government has no plans to assess eligibility for all disability benefit applications based on medical evidence alone.“DWP uses assessments to help determine entitlement for a number of benefits, including Personal Independence Payment