Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeff Smith and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 19th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

  My constituent Joseph made a claim for industrial injuries disablement benefit in January. His assessment, along with all the other new assessments, was postponed because of covid, so he is living with the extra costs that come with having an industrial disease, but he does not have the extra benefits he needs. Can the Secretary of State please urgently resume IIDB assessments?

[The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Justin Tomlinson)]

I am very much aware of this. As the hon. Gentleman will understand, we suspended face-to-face assessments across all disability benefits following the public health guidance. We are working as quickly as we can to roll out telephone assessments for IIDB where possible, and as soon as it is safe to do so, we will return to face-to-face assessments.