Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the cumulative effect on people with disabilities of the number of different assessments required to access benefits; and what steps she is taking to reduce that number.

The Department recognises that many of those claiming benefits are particularly vulnerable and we continue to explore ways to improve the customer journey for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants.

We recognise that attending a Work Capability Assessment or a PIP assessment can be a stressful experience, which is why we do not carry out a face-to-face assessment where there is enough existing evidence to determine benefit entitlement for either benefit.

In addition, those placed in ESA’s Support Group, and the Universal Credit equivalent, who have the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities, whose level of function would always mean that they would have Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity, and be unlikely ever to be able to move into work, will no longer be routinely reassessed.

With regard to PIP, in August 2018, we introduced updated guidance for case managers which will ensure that those who receive the highest level of support under PIP, and where their needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will now receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten year point.