In a few days, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to introduce a major overhaul in its assessment system, affecting millions of disability benefits claimants. The government plans to implement a new unified assessment approach for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Work Capability Assessments (WCA) starting from September. Currently, Atos and Capita handle PIP assessments, while Maximus conducts WCAs. However, the new changes will consolidate these assessments under a single company in each regional area.
Under the proposed Functional Assessment Services contracts, one company will now handle both PIP and WCA assessments for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit recipients. This shift is part of the Health Transformation programme aiming to streamline the assessment process and ensure consistency across benefits. The move towards a unified assessment is expected to bring efficiency and clarity to the assessment process for claimants.
Furthermore, plans for a telephony makeover in 2024 to introduce recordable video appraisals for disability health benefit meetings have been announced but are yet to be implemented. Currently, claimants undergoing PIP assessments have the option to audio record their assessments by informing the DWP in advance. Recent data from Freedom of Information requests revealed the number of PIP assessments audio-recorded by assessment providers.
Moreover, the DWP confirmed a significant proportion of PIP ‘light touch’ reviews did not require face-to-face assessments, with only a small number resulting in changes to benefit entitlement. These changes align with the DWP’s efforts to streamline the assessment process, minimize unnecessary assessments, and ensure appropriate support for claimants. The implementation of more concise review forms for ‘light-touch’ award recipients demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the assessment experience for claimants.
As the new assessment system comes into effect, claimants and stakeholders can expect a more unified and streamlined approach to disability benefit assessments, aiming to enhance efficiency and accuracy in determining benefit entitlement.