Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the criteria is for placing a person in the Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work category without attending a work capability assessment.

The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) advises DWP Decision Makers on whether a claimant has limited capability for work. CHDA can make its assessments based on scrutiny of available written information, including a questionnaire that the claimant is asked to complete, giving details of how their health condition or disability impacts on their day-to-day activities.

Claimants are only asked attend a Work Capability Assessment where CHDA finds the available written information is inconclusive and is unable to advise, based on that evidence, how the claimant’s condition may impact upon their capability for work.