Work Capability Assessment (Cancer Treatment)

Monday 28th January 2013 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Mr Mark Hoban)]

Today we are implementing further changes to the Work Capability Assessment to improve the way in which it assesses the effect of cancer treatment.

Following extensive work with Professor Harrington, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Royal College of Radiologists and others we are now further improving the way we assess cancer patients.

The resulting changes will mean that hundreds more people who are awaiting, receiving, or recovering from any form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer will be placed in the support group for employment and support allowance where they will get the support they need while unable to work.

We strongly support the principle of the Work Capability Assessment and are committed to continuously improving the assessment process to ensure it is as fair and as accurate as possible. As part of the programme of continuous improvement of the Work Capability Assessment, today we are also making a number of amendments to the assessment and to the description of certain activities and descriptors. These changes do not represent changes in policy. Rather they are intended to clarify areas which are open to misunderstanding. They will make the process easier to understand for claimants and assessors.