Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Seventh Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2017–19 entitled PIP and ESA assessments published on 14 February 2018, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that contractors incorporate specific training on companions into their standard assessor training.

Companions play a crucial role in obtaining accurate information on how a claimant’s disability or health condition affects their day to day life.

The Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide (PIPAG) and the Work Capability Assessments (WCA) Handbook provide comprehensive guidance for Health Professionals (HPs) on how to carry out assessments, including specific guidance on the role of companions. Please see links below to the PIPAG and WCA Handbook:

PIP guidance can be found on: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers

ESA guidance can be found on: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals

Assessment providers incorporate this guidance into their standard HP training programmes. The role of companions is addressed throughout HP training and learning is consolidated with practical case examples.