Work-Focused Health-Related Assessment

Thursday 25th April 2013 Written Statements

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

The work-focused health-related assessment (WFHRA) was introduced in October 2008, as part of the employment and support allowance process, to allow claimants to explore with an independent healthcare professional (HCP) their perceptions about work and potential obstacles to employment.

External evaluation found that the WFHRA was not delivering the intended outcomes and it was decided in July 2010 that it should be suspended for a period of two years. We now believe that a further period of review is necessary to properly evaluate the impacts of both the work programme and universal credit systems. As such we are extending the initial suspension period of the WFHRA for a further three years, starting immediately.