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Work Capability Assessment Reform

The Department for Work and Pensions is reforming the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) system used to determine eligibility for disability benefits, including changes to assessment procedures, timescales, and the Personal Independence Payment scheme. The reform addresses longstanding concerns about assessment accuracy and access, with recent focus on recording requirements and the WorkWell expansion programme. Current status involves active legislative proposals including the Disability Benefit Assessments (Recording) Bill and ongoing consultation on legacy benefits abolition.

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2026

14 events
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Work and Pensions linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Access to Work scheme in supporting disabled people to (a) enter and (b) remain in employme

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Access to Work scheme in supporting disabled people to (a) enter and (b) remain in employment.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Work and Pensions linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that reimbursement rates under Access to Work reflect the real cost of support, including travel and specialist e

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that reimbursement rates under Access to Work reflect the real cost of support, including travel and specialist equipment.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Work and Pensions linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in Access to Work awards at renewal on blind and partially sighted cu

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in Access to Work awards at renewal on blind and partially sighted customers.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
27 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Work and Pensions linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in the Access to Work scheme on disabled people’s ability to start or remain in emplo

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in the Access to Work scheme on disabled people’s ability to start or remain in employment.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
9 Jan 2026 | Committee report linked

In June 2025, just before we published our report, the Department wrote to tell us that it had made three of the measures in the framework permanent. Two of these measures involved reducing the frequency of appointments for customers in the Intensive Work Search group. The third measure was shortening the first meeting claimants have with a work coach—the ‘claimant commitment meeting’ when customers are talked through the requirements of their claims—from 50 to 30 minutes.17

In June 2025, just before we published our report, the Department wrote to tell us that it had made three of the measures in the framework permanent. Two of these measures involved reducing the frequency of appointments for customers in …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
9 Jan 2026 | Committee report linked

In September 2025, the Department wrote to us again and acknowledged that it did not hold quantitative evidence on the impact of changing the length of the first meeting claimants have with a work coach. It said that, as this measure was part of the local flexibility framework, many jobcentres were familiar with the policy and feedback from frontline staff who had previously used the framework suggested that customers could be adequately supported within the reduced timeframe.18 We note, howe...

In September 2025, the Department wrote to us again and acknowledged that it did not hold quantitative evidence on the impact of changing the length of the first meeting claimants have with a work coach. It said that, as this …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2025

26 events
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

Claimant commitments should be a cornerstone of the relationship between claimants and work coaches. But too often, commitments set work search requirements that are too generic and sometimes counter-productive (such as completing a set number of applications or spending 35-hours job searching per week). We heard that complying with these blanket conditions can be stressful and can leave people feeling disempowered and unsupported. We welcome the Government’s undertaking to review the claiman...

Claimant commitments should be a cornerstone of the relationship between claimants and work coaches. But too often, commitments set work search requirements that are too generic and sometimes counter-productive (such as completing a set number of applications or spending 35-hours …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

Instead of an internal review, DWP should publicly consult on changes to the claimant commitment. DWP should consider removing blanket requirements, such as the 35-hour job search requirement, and replacing them with a personalised action plan that is co-developed between the claimant and work coach, and relevant to the claimant’s skills and experience. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)

Instead of an internal review, DWP should publicly consult on changes to the claimant commitment. DWP should consider removing blanket requirements, such as the 35-hour job search requirement, and replacing them with a personalised action plan that is co-developed between …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

To demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting rather than coercing people into employment, it should introduce an employment support guarantee that sets out the personalised support and advice people can expect to receive from the new jobs and careers service. (Recommendation, Paragraph 24)

To demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting rather than coercing people into employment, it should introduce an employment support guarantee that sets out the personalised support and advice people can expect to receive from the new jobs and careers service. …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

We were encouraged to hear that the Government wants to shift the focus of Jobcentre appointments away from monitoring benefit compliance and towards personalised employment support. This shift is urgently needed. The Department now needs to expand on how it will deliver this change. 52 It is not clear how Jobcentre appointments will change and whether there will be a new process for monitoring benefit compliance. We are concerned that without meaningful change in these areas the opportunity ...

We were encouraged to hear that the Government wants to shift the focus of Jobcentre appointments away from monitoring benefit compliance and towards personalised employment support. This shift is urgently needed. The Department now needs to expand on how it …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

In its response to this report, DWP should clarify what changes it is making to the system for monitoring compliance with benefit conditions. In particular, it should set out how it will move benefit monitoring “from the foreground to the background” of Jobcentre appointments. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31)

In its response to this report, DWP should clarify what changes it is making to the system for monitoring compliance with benefit conditions. In particular, it should set out how it will move benefit monitoring “from the foreground to the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

DWP should set out more detail about how it will build a systems-based approach to safeguarding into the new jobs and careers service, including its conditionality and sanctions policy. We previously recommended that the Chief Medical Advisor assess the potential health impact on claimants of all policy changes, and we expect such an assessment to take place before any changes to Jobcentres and work coach support. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43) Empowering work coaches

DWP should set out more detail about how it will build a systems-based approach to safeguarding into the new jobs and careers service, including its conditionality and sanctions policy. We previously recommended that the Chief Medical Advisor assess the potential …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

Work coaches are an incredible resource but they are currently being ineffectively deployed. Work coaches often do not have enough time with claimants to have an impact, with many appointments no more than 10 minutes long: not nearly enough to address the needs of many claimants who are further from employment. What time they do have is frequently poorly directed, with too little time spent building relationships and coaching people into work, and too much spent checking compliance with benef...

Work coaches are an incredible resource but they are currently being ineffectively deployed. Work coaches often do not have enough time with claimants to have an impact, with many appointments no more than 10 minutes long: not nearly enough to …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
8 Sep 2025 | Committee report linked

We were encouraged to hear that DWP wants work coaches to have more time with claimants and to deliver more personalised support. Coaching that is tailored to the aspirations of the service user and that seeks to identify the unique barriers people face will be far more effective than the current support provided. However, work coaches are already stretched, with too few employed to deliver this service currently. DWP will need to develop a clear plan for how it prioritises work coach time to...

We were encouraged to hear that DWP wants work coaches to have more time with claimants and to deliver more personalised support. Coaching that is tailored to the aspirations of the service user and that seeks to identify the unique …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We agree that the incapacity benefit system is broken. It focuses too much on what people cannot do and on assessing claimants’ eligibility for benefits, rather than on supporting them into work. As concluded by many of the most reputable authorities in this area, the disparity in rates and conditionality rules has no doubt impacted on economic inactivity. Whether people are being parked on benefits depends largely, however, on the barriers to their engaging with the available employment supp...

We agree that the incapacity benefit system is broken. It focuses too much on what people cannot do and on assessing claimants’ eligibility for benefits, rather than on supporting them into work. As concluded by many of the most reputable …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

The accessibility of workplaces is highly relevant to the Government’s reforms, especially since it has predicated its criticisms of the Work Capability Assessment partly on there being a range of jobs and adaptations available in the labour market. We will return to this subject in a future Get Britain Working inquiry. (Conclusion, Paragraph 49) Changes to PIP eligibility and UC rates

The accessibility of workplaces is highly relevant to the Government’s reforms, especially since it has predicated its criticisms of the Work Capability Assessment partly on there being a range of jobs and adaptations available in the labour market. We will …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government consider implementing further increases to the standard allowance over the life of the Parliament, in addition to those provided for in the Universal Credit Bill. We also call on the Government to delay the reduction in UC health until it has carried out an independent and comprehensive assessment of the impact the change could have on disabled people. (Recommendation, Paragraph 99)

We recommend that the Government consider implementing further increases to the standard allowance over the life of the Parliament, in addition to those provided for in the Universal Credit Bill. We also call on the Government to delay the reduction …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We are pleased the Government has provided some clarity about how those with the most severe, lifelong conditions will be protected, at least until the removal of the Work Capability Assessment, and we look forward to the publication of the White Paper in the autumn, which will set out the Government’s long-term plans for protecting this group. We also welcome the fact that those in this group will benefit from the decision not to freeze UC health for the rest of the Parliament. However, we h...

We are pleased the Government has provided some clarity about how those with the most severe, lifelong conditions will be protected, at least until the removal of the Work Capability Assessment, and we look forward to the publication of the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We ask that the Government set out what conversations it had with stakeholders about the eligibility criteria for the protected rate of UC health for those with the most severe, lifelong conditions, and any assessment it has made about the types of serious conditions, especially mental health conditions, that might not qualify. (Recommendation, Paragraph 101) 65

We ask that the Government set out what conversations it had with stakeholders about the eligibility criteria for the protected rate of UC health for those with the most severe, lifelong conditions, and any assessment it has made about the …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

The change to eligibility for the daily living component of the Personal Independence Payment was always the source of greatest concern and anger. This was partly because it appeared to many that the Government was treating PIP as an incapacity benefit, although we recognise that, as the Minister said, a large majority of PIP recipients are not in work. (Conclusion, Paragraph 102)

The change to eligibility for the daily living component of the Personal Independence Payment was always the source of greatest concern and anger. This was partly because it appeared to many that the Government was treating PIP as an incapacity …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We call on the Government to explain in its response to our report what assessment it made of the safeguarding implications of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill before it was introduced to Parliament. We also recommend that it publish as soon as possible an assessment of the impact that a more disability friendly labour market and additional NHS capacity, as well as longer-term improvements in population health, could have on rates of disability and incapacity benefi...

We call on the Government to explain in its response to our report what assessment it made of the safeguarding implications of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill before it was introduced to Parliament. We also recommend that …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We agree with the principle of a streamlined, single health and disability assessment, given the distress caused by repeated and unnecessary assessments. The objection to the Government’s proposal to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and to link eligibility for UC health to receipt of the daily living component of PIP is that the two assessments assess different things: one a person’s capacity for work and the other the impact of a disability on a person’s daily living. This object...

We agree with the principle of a streamlined, single health and disability assessment, given the distress caused by repeated and unnecessary assessments. The objection to the Government’s proposal to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and to link eligibility for …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We are cautiously supportive of the idea of decoupling UC health from an assessment of a person’s capacity for work, but it does raise an important question about what type of benefit UC health will be in the future. If it is not related to a person’s capacity for work, it can hardly be described as an incapacity benefit. If it is to depend on receipt of the daily living component of PIP, it is perhaps best described as a means-tested disability benefit, but the Government has not described i...

We are cautiously supportive of the idea of decoupling UC health from an assessment of a person’s capacity for work, but it does raise an important question about what type of benefit UC health will be in the future. If …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government: • clarify what type of benefit UC health will be in the reformed system; and • provide an update as soon as possible on the progress of discussions with the Scottish Government regarding implementation in Scotland. (Recommendation, Paragraph 121)

We recommend that the Government: • clarify what type of benefit UC health will be in the reformed system; and • provide an update as soon as possible on the progress of discussions with the Scottish Government regarding implementation in …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We welcome the publication of the terms of reference for the review of the PIP assessment, which is in desperate need of reform, and the Government’s commitment to co-produce it with disabled people and their organisations, as we called for in our letter to the Secretary of State. We are particularly encouraged by the Minister’s suggestion that the same approach of co- production could be applied to other changes to the health-related benefit system, following successful completion of the PIP...

We welcome the publication of the terms of reference for the review of the PIP assessment, which is in desperate need of reform, and the Government’s commitment to co-produce it with disabled people and their organisations, as we called for …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

Enshrining the right to try work in legislation will be a small but important and worthwhile measure that could provide greater clarity and even reduce levels of mistrust by putting the matter beyond doubt. This is just one step, however, in the many that will need to be taken to seriously rebuild trust in the system. We will carefully scrutinise the Government’s progress on this throughout the Parliament. (Conclusion, Paragraph 142) Pathways to Work

Enshrining the right to try work in legislation will be a small but important and worthwhile measure that could provide greater clarity and even reduce levels of mistrust by putting the matter beyond doubt. This is just one step, however, …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We are cautiously optimistic about the Government’s proposals for conditionality, although a great deal remains uncertain. The tone of the Green Paper suggests the Government is minded to focus more on positive engagement than coercive conditionality. We appreciate the concerns expressed by many about the principle of drawing more disabled people within the scope of conditionality, but if support conversations are to be the extent of conditionality for the majority of claimants, we would cons...

We are cautiously optimistic about the Government’s proposals for conditionality, although a great deal remains uncertain. The tone of the Green Paper suggests the Government is minded to focus more on positive engagement than coercive conditionality. We appreciate the concerns …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government clarify its intentions for the conditionality regime for disabled people. In particular, it should spell out what requirements beyond support conversations a disabled person might have to meet. Furthermore, if the nature of a person’s conditionality regime is to be left to the discretion of work coaches, the Government needs to make clear on what basis they will be making their decisions and what right of appeal a claimant will have. Conditionality for disable...

We recommend that the Government clarify its intentions for the conditionality regime for disabled people. In particular, it should spell out what requirements beyond support conversations a disabled person might have to meet. Furthermore, if the nature of a person’s …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
2 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

In March 2025, the government published a green paper, Pathways to Work, which set out proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support, with the aim of providing tailored employment, health and skills support for claimants with a work-limiting health condition or disability.21 The Department plans to redeploy 1,000 existing work coaches in 2025–26 to provide intensive employment support to around 65,000 people with health conditions and disabilities.22 We asked the D...

In March 2025, the government published a green paper, Pathways to Work, which set out proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support, with the aim of providing tailored employment, health and skills support for claimants with a …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
15 May 2025 | Committee report linked

The Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) told us her team provided clinical advice to Ministers and was involved in assessing any potential policy changes put forward within White Papers or Green Papers; however, these assessments were not usually published, to enable Ministers to make decisions in a safe space. The Pathways to Work Green Paper proposes sweeping changes to health and disability benefits and will have a significant effect on claimants. Given the potential impact of these reforms, we be...

The Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) told us her team provided clinical advice to Ministers and was involved in assessing any potential policy changes put forward within White Papers or Green Papers; however, these assessments were not usually published, to enable …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
15 May 2025 | Committee report linked

In response to this report, we ask that DWP confirm that planned changes to health and disability benefits, set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, were prospectively assessed with respect to possible physical and mental 95 health impacts on claimants. We recommend DWP publish the Chief Medical Adviser’s team’s assessment of proposals, and place a copy in the House’s library. (Recommendation, Paragraph 41)

In response to this report, we ask that DWP confirm that planned changes to health and disability benefits, set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, were prospectively assessed with respect to possible physical and mental 95 health impacts …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
15 May 2025 | Committee report linked

DWP should also implement a new policy making clear that staff have a responsibility to check proactively for vulnerabilities and engage claimants in regular conversations where they can share any difficulties they may be experiencing. For example, if a claimant attended meetings with a support 97 worker advocating on their behalf, this should act as a clear indication of a possible vulnerability. DWP should also consider how to introduce semi- regular moments to check on claimants who do not...

DWP should also implement a new policy making clear that staff have a responsibility to check proactively for vulnerabilities and engage claimants in regular conversations where they can share any difficulties they may be experiencing. For example, if a claimant …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2024

3 events
26 Apr 2024 | Committee report linked

ESA claimants can move to UC voluntarily before 2028 but would not qualify for transitional protection should their UC entitlement be lower than their legacy benefit income.72 We asked whether it is possible for people to get a reliable estimate of their UC entitlement to allow them to make an informed decision about whether to move voluntarily. The Department highlighted that there are three benefit calculators, run by various groups and all available through the gov.uk website, that people ...

ESA claimants can move to UC voluntarily before 2028 but would not qualify for transitional protection should their UC entitlement be lower than their legacy benefit income.72 We asked whether it is possible for people to get a reliable estimate …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
26 Apr 2024 | Committee report linked

The Government’s decision to delay the move of ESA claimants to UC until 2028 means that the Department will not complete implementation of UC until at least six years later than it planned in 2018.75 The Department told us that the number of people on 66 C&AG’s Report, para 17. In addition to income-related Employment and Support Allowance, a separate benefit called “New Style Employment and Support Allowance” can also be claimed. This chapter concerns only income- related Employment and Sup...

The Government’s decision to delay the move of ESA claimants to UC until 2028 means that the Department will not complete implementation of UC until at least six years later than it planned in 2018.75 The Department told us that …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
21 Mar 2024 | Committee report linked

We are concerned that there is not sufficient capacity in the system to absorb the number of claimants who will be made subject to conditionality, or increased conditionality, following announcements made in the 2023 Spring Budget and 2023 Autumn Statement, as well as planned changes to the Work Capability Assessment. This could have a negative impact on claimants and on Work Coaches, who conduct Benefit levels in the U 77 valued work in our constituencies. To improve transparency, the Depart...

We are concerned that there is not sufficient capacity in the system to absorb the number of claimants who will be made subject to conditionality, or increased conditionality, following announcements made in the 2023 Spring Budget and 2023 Autumn Statement, …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2023

30 events
29 Nov 2023 | Committee report linked

There is a risk that the Department will deliver a new service without the important improvements to claimant’s experience. The Department intends to make a lot of changes to the process of making a claim before it launches the new health assessment service in 2029. In advance of this, it plans to build its own case management IT system and develop the new service. It then needs to use a ‘test-and- learn approach’ to trial changes and identify what works to improve the claimant experience. Th...

There is a risk that the Department will deliver a new service without the important improvements to claimant’s experience. The Department intends to make a lot of changes to the process of making a claim before it launches the new …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Nov 2023 | Committee report linked

The Department plans to complete the Programme by 2029 with the launch of a new health assessment service. This will require the Department to develop both a new digital system and an operational service to process claims, which both need to be tested.15 In 2021, the Department introduced health transformation areas, which were intended to provide the Programme with the capability “to look at radical changes to the way” it delivers the service by processing up to 4% of new claims through thes...

The Department plans to complete the Programme by 2029 with the launch of a new health assessment service. This will require the Department to develop both a new digital system and an operational service to process claims, which both need …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Nov 2023 | Committee report linked

In order to deliver the new service from 2029, the Department told us it needs certainty over the design of the new health assessments service by 2027 to either procure the new 12 Qq 45–46 13 Q 47 14 Q 76 15 Q 12; C&AG’s Report, para 3.14 16 Q 22; C&AG’s Report, figure 10 17 Q 1; C&AG’s Report, para 3.21 18 Q 25; C&AG’s Report, para 2.10 19 Qq 25–26; C&AG’s Report, para 2.10 12 Revising health assessments for disability benefits services from contractors, or allow it sufficient time to bring ...

In order to deliver the new service from 2029, the Department told us it needs certainty over the design of the new health assessments service by 2027 to either procure the new 12 Qq 45–46 13 Q 47 14 Q …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Nov 2023 | Committee report linked

The Functional Assessment Services contract will see a new set of contractors providing functional health assessments on behalf of the Department from 2024 to 2029 as an interim service until the Health Assessment Service is delivered in 2029. We asked the Department about the distinction between the Functional Assessment Service and the Health Assessment Service. The Department explained that the interim service would be “very similar to what it does at the moment” but will involve a single ...

The Functional Assessment Services contract will see a new set of contractors providing functional health assessments on behalf of the Department from 2024 to 2029 as an interim service until the Health Assessment Service is delivered in 2029. We asked …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Nov 2023 | Committee report linked

We therefore asked the Department whether it was concerned that so many decisions were being overturned. The Department stressed that there was a degree of judgement involved in the health assessment process it used to determine eligibility for disability benefits, compared to, say, a mathematical formula, which could be used for benefits such as income replacement benefit or state pension. It explained that “a huge amount of time” went into understanding the way in which a particular health ...

We therefore asked the Department whether it was concerned that so many decisions were being overturned. The Department stressed that there was a degree of judgement involved in the health assessment process it used to determine eligibility for disability benefits, …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Nov 2023 | Committee report linked

The Department is testing improvements to the how it decides disability benefits using functional health assessments by developing the new health assessment service and the PIP application service within health transformation areas located in London and Birmingham. It told us that part of the testing would look at how it can “make it clearer up front what it is that customers need to be telling [it], what [it is] looking for and what evidence is relevant to help [the Department] to get the de...

The Department is testing improvements to the how it decides disability benefits using functional health assessments by developing the new health assessment service and the PIP application service within health transformation areas located in London and Birmingham. It told us …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
29 Nov 2023 | Written evidence linked

We received written evidence from some charitable organisations who work with people with disabilities, who said that they would support many of the proposed changes the programme is designed to deliver. For instance, three of the four organisations who wrote to us expressed the need for benefit assessors to be specially trained to assess claimants with particular disabilities.44 The Autism Society told us that some assessors were unfamiliar with the different forms autism and can mistakenly ...

We received written evidence from some charitable organisations who work with people with disabilities, who said that they would support many of the proposed changes the programme is designed to deliver. For instance, three of the four organisations who wrote …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
19 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

There is inadequate access to occupational health services, especially for those working for small businesses. The rise in the number of people who are economically inactive due to long-term health conditions and high rates of economic inactivity among disabled people suggests more needs to be done to support health at work. We support the initiatives introduced in the Spring Budget around occupational health. However, DWP needs to outline a more detailed timeline about when these initiatives...

There is inadequate access to occupational health services, especially for those working for small businesses. The rise in the number of people who are economically inactive due to long-term health conditions and high rates of economic inactivity among disabled people …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
19 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

DWP should roll out the Work Adjustment Passport for everyone who receives support from Access to Work to support people transitioning into work or between jobs. This would make it easier to access support and obtain adjustments quickly.

DWP should roll out the Work Adjustment Passport for everyone who receives support from Access to Work to support people transitioning into work or between jobs. This would make it easier to access support and obtain adjustments quickly. Type: conclusion …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
19 Jul 2023 | Committee report linked

The Access to Work system is outdated and often unable to accept online document submission or e-signatures. A system that requires applications and claims must be 84 Plan for Jobs and employment support sent in by hand acts as a practical barrier to support. DWP needs to update the Access to Work document submission process so that all documentation can be submitted online. It should do this by the end of 2023.

The Access to Work system is outdated and often unable to accept online document submission or e-signatures. A system that requires applications and claims must be 84 Plan for Jobs and employment support sent in by hand acts as a …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

We welcome the changes to the process for accessing benefits via the special rules for terminal illness, specifically replacing the six month rule with 12 months.

We welcome the changes to the process for accessing benefits via the special rules for terminal illness, specifically replacing the six month rule with 12 months. Type: conclusion | Number: 1 | Paragraph: 15 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

Following our predecessor’s 2018 Report, the Government commissioned research into the impacts of health assessment questionnaires and is now feeding that learning into its policy development. We have also heard important insight from academics on the mental health impacts of assessments, but studies have been sporadic and rely on the data made available to them. As the Government reforms health assessments, quality research will be vital to measure success. The Government should commit to un...

Following our predecessor’s 2018 Report, the Government commissioned research into the impacts of health assessment questionnaires and is now feeding that learning into its policy development. We have also heard important insight from academics on the mental health impacts of …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

Face-to-face, in person assessments were the main form of assessment for Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance/Universal Credit before the pandemic, despite widespread agreement amongst claimants and the organisations that support them that they are frequently unnecessarily stressful and poorly suited to measuring the impact of some health conditions. The pandemic forced the Department’s hand in making greater use of other formats, and feedback from stakeholders h...

Face-to-face, in person assessments were the main form of assessment for Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance/Universal Credit before the pandemic, despite widespread agreement amongst claimants and the organisations that support them that they are frequently unnecessar

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

The application and assessment process can be very stressful for claimants, and unacceptable delays are exacerbating these problems. We recognise that waiting times have begun to fall but are concerned that with increasing demand this could be a recurring problem. We recommend that the new contracts for assessment providers contain explicit clearance time targets with appropriate sanctions where these are missed.

The application and assessment process can be very stressful for claimants, and unacceptable delays are exacerbating these problems. We recognise that waiting times have begun to fall but are concerned that with increasing demand this could be a recurring problem. …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

We recognise that reducing waiting times is vital to ensuring people get the support that they need. However, we are keenly aware that delays are still happening. In line with our recommendation that the Department set clearance time targets, we also recommend that where these are missed, PIP applicants are paid an assessment rate for the remaining time until their claim is decided. This should be non-repayable 90 Health assessments for benefits in the event that a claim is disallowed. Where ...

We recognise that reducing waiting times is vital to ensuring people get the support that they need. However, we are keenly aware that delays are still happening. In line with our recommendation that the Department set clearance time targets, we …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

The process of issuing a UC50 form should be automatic, and claimants should not have to remind the Department to send it to them. DWP should investigate the process for issuing UC50 forms urgently and confirm in its response to this Report what steps it is taking to fix any points of failure identified to improve the process while the Work Capability Assessment and UC50 forms remain in use.

The process of issuing a UC50 form should be automatic, and claimants should not have to remind the Department to send it to them. DWP should investigate the process for issuing UC50 forms urgently and confirm in its response to …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

Giving people sufficient time to gather relevant evidence for their claim could reduce the stress involved for claimants and improve the quality of information available to the assessment provider. In turn this could lead to better initial decisions and reduce the number of Mandatory Reconsiderations due to either unreturned forms, or missing evidence. DWP should extend the deadline for returning ESA50, UC50 and PIP2 forms and accompanying evidence to two months.

Giving people sufficient time to gather relevant evidence for their claim could reduce the stress involved for claimants and improve the quality of information available to the assessment provider. In turn this could lead to better initial decisions and reduce …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

We welcome efforts to reduce unnecessary reassessments for people whose conditions or needs are unlikely to change. However, ESA/UC and PIP are different benefits with different purposes, and this must be reflected in any criteria for reassessment. The Department should adopt a version of the severe conditions criteria for PIP, effectively ending the need for reassessment as it does in ESA/UC. If this is achieved through the Severe Disability Group, which the Department is currently testing, ...

We welcome efforts to reduce unnecessary reassessments for people whose conditions or needs are unlikely to change. However, ESA/UC and PIP are different benefits with different purposes, and this must be reflected in any criteria for reassessment. The Department should …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

DWP provides assessors with guidance on issues including evidence use, contributions of family members and carers, and informal observations which, if correctly followed, would address many of the concerns raised in this area. The accounts we have heard in this inquiry, and those from the previous Committee’s Health assessments for benefits 91 inquiry, suggest that, too often, guidance is not followed correctly. We believe this points to fundamental weaknesses in the Department’s quality cont...

DWP provides assessors with guidance on issues including evidence use, contributions of family members and carers, and informal observations which, if correctly followed, would address many of the concerns raised in this area. The accounts we have heard in this …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

DWP has introduced changes to the Mandatory Reconsideration process that it says make it a more effective check on decision-making. A worryingly high number and proportion of appeals still result in the Department’s decision being overturned, with implications for wider trust in the system beyond those directly affected. The Department does not provide any data on Mandatory Reconsideration decisions for UC WCAs. Without this, we cannot know whether Mandatory Reconsideration is functioning eff...

DWP has introduced changes to the Mandatory Reconsideration process that it says make it a more effective check on decision-making. A worryingly high number and proportion of appeals still result in the Department’s decision being overturned, with implications for wider …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

The vast majority of assessments are still not recorded and auditing the reports may not pick up discrepancies between what a claimant has said or done in an assessment, and what is recorded in the report. We recommend the Department instructs providers to record assessments by default, with a clear opt-out rather than opt-in option, as recommended by the previous Committee and endorsed by all three 92 Health assessments for benefits current contractors. This will ensure that an objective rec...

The vast majority of assessments are still not recorded and auditing the reports may not pick up discrepancies between what a claimant has said or done in an assessment, and what is recorded in the report. We recommend the Department …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

When recordings are available, in cases where the findings of assessments are overturned on MR or appeal, the recordings of the original assessment should be checked at least on a sampled basis, to establish whether the erroneous assessment outcome should have been avoided. We welcome the plans to test sending reports by default and recommend that this be rolled out as soon as possible. (Paragraph 99) Other health-related benefits

When recordings are available, in cases where the findings of assessments are overturned on MR or appeal, the recordings of the original assessment should be checked at least on a sampled basis, to establish whether the erroneous assessment outcome should …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

We agree that the easement for signing forms on behalf of people with terminal mesothelioma and lung cancer was a positive development in the pandemic. The Department should make this permanent and bring the rules on advisers signing forms in line with those for other benefits, including Attendance Allowance. (Paragraph 111) The bigger picture: reforming health assessment systems

We agree that the easement for signing forms on behalf of people with terminal mesothelioma and lung cancer was a positive development in the pandemic. The Department should make this permanent and bring the rules on advisers signing forms in …

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14 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

The Department has made, and continues to make, reforms to improve PIP assessment and WCA processes. But the pace of change has been extremely slow. The plans to scrap WCAs are significant and will require further scrutiny in the months and years to come. In the meantime, too many people claiming disability and health-related benefits, even those not directly affected by poor decision- making, continue to view the processes with great trepidation, and for a minority the experience of assessme...

The Department has made, and continues to make, reforms to improve PIP assessment and WCA processes. But the pace of change has been extremely slow. The plans to scrap WCAs are significant and will require further scrutiny in the months …

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2022

2 events
17 Mar 2022 | Committee report linked

Given the comparatively high proportion of low paid workers in Wales, we were concerned to hear of issues regarding the eligibility criteria for Statutory Sick Pay. While we acknowledge that there may be other support available to unwell workers, the pandemic has highlighted the dangers of someone attending work when they are unwell. Sick pay benefits wider society, not just the sick, and we would welcome the UK Government reviewing the eligibility criteria for this benefit. (Paragraph 82) Th...

Given the comparatively high proportion of low paid workers in Wales, we were concerned to hear of issues regarding the eligibility criteria for Statutory Sick Pay. While we acknowledge that there may be other support available to unwell workers, the …

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2021

6 events
30 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

We welcome the publication of the Government’s response to the Health is everyone’s business consultation, which closed in 2019. We look forward to scrutinising the Government’s proposals in greater detail, particularly on improving access to occupational health for people in smaller businesses, which may not have dedicated HR functions. We recommend that the Government set out, in response to this report, more detail about its plans to test and evaluate the impact of a subsidy for SMEs and t...

We welcome the publication of the Government’s response to the Health is everyone’s business consultation, which closed in 2019. We look forward to scrutinising the Government’s proposals in greater detail, particularly on improving access to occupational health for people in …

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30 Jul 2021 | Committee report linked

The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is not fit for purpose. The fact that a majority of appeals against fit for work decisions are successful is evidence that it is not achieving its aim of supporting disabled people who can and want to work into employment. The assessment process can also create anxiety and distress for claimants, pushing them further away from the labour market in the process. We welcome the Minister’s admission that the system is flawed and needs to change, and we plan to...

The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is not fit for purpose. The fact that a majority of appeals against fit for work decisions are successful is evidence that it is not achieving its aim of supporting disabled people who can and …

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29 Jun 2021 | Committee report linked

We welcome the fact that DWP has recruited 13,500 additional Work Coaches in response to the pandemic. DWP should continue to assess whether the number of Work Coaches is sufficient, and commit to recruiting more in the future if demand rises. It should also ensure that there are enough Jobcentre Plus staff with specialist skills. The Department recently announced the recruitment of 315 new Disability Employment Advisers, which is welcome, but it should assess whether this number is enough an...

We welcome the fact that DWP has recruited 13,500 additional Work Coaches in response to the pandemic. DWP should continue to assess whether the number of Work Coaches is sufficient, and commit to recruiting more in the future if demand …

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2020

3 events
19 Oct 2020 | Committee report linked

For this group of claimants, the burden of future repayments of Advances is likely to be particularly difficult to bear. Given that benefits broadly provide people with a subsistence level of income, any system that reduces that monthly income, including through repaying an advance, is very likely to cause people difficulty. The Department already plans to extend the repayment period for Advances from 12 to 24 months, and to reduce the cap on deductions from an award of Universal Credit to 25...

For this group of claimants, the burden of future repayments of Advances is likely to be particularly difficult to bear. Given that benefits broadly provide people with a subsistence level of income, any system that reduces that monthly income, including …

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19 Oct 2020 | Committee report linked

We acknowledge that most disabled people and people with health conditions receive the core elements of their claim on time. However, we find it troubling that, because of the time taken to complete the Work Capability Assessment process, people must wait much longer than five weeks to receive their full entitlement. Even beyond this, disabled people experience further delays, waiting on average four months for a WCA decision. Given that disabled or ill claimants face additional costs and cha...

We acknowledge that most disabled people and people with health conditions receive the core elements of their claim on time. However, we find it troubling that, because of the time taken to complete the Work Capability Assessment process, people must …

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2019

6 events
27 Mar 2019 | Written question Department for Work and Pensions linked

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the letter from the hon. Member for Edinburgh East of 14 January 2019 and response from the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, of …

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2016

1 event

2009

1 event