DWP rejects Select Committee’s recommendations for short-term improvements to the health assessment process

Pending long-term reforms set out in Health and Disability White Paper, Department fails to commit to moving to an opt-out approach for recording assessments, making an interim payment to claimants where clearance times are not met, and extending the time to return forms

The DWP has rejected recommendations put forward by the Work and Pensions Committee for short-term improvements to the health assessment process, pending the proposed long-term reforms introduced in the Health and Disability White Paper.

Having opened an inquiry into health assessments for benefits in September 2021, the Committee published its resultant report – which drew on evidence from stakeholders, academics, health assessment contractors and DWP Ministers and officials – in April 2023. While recognising that the DWP's new White Paper sets out major long-term reforms – including the abolition of the work capability assessment (WCA) – the Committee highlighted that these will take several years to implement and, accordingly, recommended a series of changes the Department could make now to improve the experience of health assessments for claimants and to provide 'much-needed transparency'.

However, in its response published today, the DWP rejects a number of those proposals, including –

• offering claimants a choice of channel for carrying out an assessment –

'Evidence from the Health Assessment Channel Trial, in combination with further testing of a number of different approaches, will inform how the Department’s multi-channelled service capability can be optimised, including whether claimants will be able to choose their preferred assessment channel.'

• providers recording assessments by default, with a clear opt-out rather than opt-in choice –

'Audio recording is now available for face-to-face and telephone assessments with all the Department’s assessment providers. These arrangements are publicised on providers’ websites and in the assessment invitation letters to claimants. The Department remains committed to retaining audio recording on an opt-in basis, giving claimants the choice of having their assessment recorded. This recognises that audio recording could provide trust in the service for some claimants but also, that recording by default could inadvertently cause additional concerns about the assessment process for others, particularly when sharing detailed, personal information.'

• making an interim payment to personal independence payment (PIP) claimants where clearance time targets are missed –

'PIP is not an income replacement benefit. It is paid to help with the additional costs that arise from needs that are determined at assessment, rather than a life circumstance or diagnosis. PIP requires an assessment to determine entitlement and which of the nine possible award outcomes is appropriate.

As such, payment of an assessment rate for PIP applicants, which would be non-repayable in the event that a claim is disallowed, could lead to inappropriate expenditure of public funds. Around half of new PIP claims that are referred for assessment do not receive an award.'

• extending the deadline for returning ESA50, UC50 and PIP2 forms and accompanying evidence to two months –

'Timeframes for returning questionnaires and providing medical evidence have been informed by the Department’s 15 years’ experience of delivering health assessments. They are intended to strike the right balance between providing a claimant with sufficient time to return their evidence and getting the correct award in place at the earliest opportunity. For example, regarding the ESA50 and UC50, delaying return of the questionnaire by a further four weeks would lead to a later assessment and delays in being paid any entitlement to the limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) component and, in universal credit, access to the work allowance.'

Elsewhere in its response, the DWP also confirms that –

• in response to problems identified with the process for issuing the UC50 questionnaire, the Department has not identified any systemic points of failure, but has identified some improvements to the journey which will be delivered by the end of 2023;
• the new Functional Assessment Service contracts include specific end-to-end clearance targets and, in the event of repeated performance failure, the Department can deduct a percentage of the invoice prior to payment;
• it has made progress with its plans to test a Severe Disability Group, so that the relevant claimants can benefit from a simplified process without ever needing to complete a detailed application form, go through a full assessment or have frequent award reviews;
• it will review its guidance and training material for health professionals to ensure that carers and family members are encouraged to attend and provide evidence at assessments; and
• the changes proposed in the White Paper will require primary legislation, and will therefore be taken forward 'when parliamentary time allows' and rolled out no earlier than 2026/2027.

For more information, see Health assessments for benefits: Work and Pensions Committee publishes Government Response to Report from parliament.uk