02 February 2024 , 11:53
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared an update for people looking to claim the disability benefits Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The benefits department confirmed in a written statement that there are no "medical consultations" as part of the application process for PIP or ESA - but there is an assessment which needs to be conducted. Responding to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon who asked about the "effectiveness" of the "medical consultations", Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, Mims Davies clarified the point adding: "They are functional assessments, which require a Healthcare professional to look at the impact of conditions and impairments on an individual’s daily life."
The amount of PIP you are paid is dependent on how your medical condition or disability affects your daily life rather than the condition itself. This means a broad range of conditions could be eligible to claim and is a common misconception with PIP. With ESA, you have to undergo a Work Capability Assessment, which is used to find out if your illness or disability affects how much you can work.
Davies explained that all assessment providers (APs) have "set standards regarding the quality of assessments" and the department "closely monitors all aspects of the process including the performance of the APs.” Alongside this, a team of "experienced health professionals “continually monitors performance and provides feedback to providers”.
The DWP minister noted that this also included an "independent audit" which conducted a “comprehensive check of the elements of the assessment, including the evidence collection, further evidence provided, and the assessment report completed by the health professional”.
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She added: "The check is completed against a set of guidelines to ensure a consistent approach is taken. This ensures that assessment reports are fit for purpose, clinically justified and sound, and provide sufficient information for the department to make an informed decision on entitlement to benefit.”
In addition to this, the DWP minister says the department's Health Transformation Prog
ramme (HTP) was "modernising health and disability benefit services" by creating "a more efficient service, an improved claimant experience and help increase trust in decision making." She added: "Furthermore, an ongoing programme of engagement and research has been established to ensure that the design and delivery of the HTP is rooted in evidence."
According to Government guidance, the assessment is an opportunity for you to talk about how exactly your condition affects you personally. The assessment provider will carry out the assessment and using this - alongside the information you gave on your original PIP claim form - will write a report about it.
They will then send this off to the DWP who will then decide on whether you can claim or not. These assessments can be conducted in person, over the phone and through a video call, and you can have someone with you during it.