Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review Personal Independence Payment assessment guidance in relation to Functional Neurological Disorder to ensure that claimants are not being refused the daily living component on the basis that they do not have a diagnosed mental health condition.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is based on the impact of a health condition or impairment on a person's ability to carry out the daily living and mobility activities prescribed in legislation, rather than on a particular diagnosis.

All PIP claimants are assessed to determine their entitlement. As part of the assessment process, a health professional (HP) considers a claimant's ability to carry out a range of everyday activities and advises which assessment criteria they believe apply. DWP will then consider all available evidence before making a decision on entitlement.

All assessment suppliers are required to ensure that HPs have appropriate training and knowledge of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments, including Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). All HPs undertaking assessments on behalf of the department must be registered practitioners and receive comprehensive training in disability analysis, including how to assess the impact of health conditions on day-to-day activities, alongside awareness training covering a range of conditions, symptoms and disabilities.

From 9 September 2024, the educational material for all Health Assessment Advisory Service HPs has been provided by DWP, ensuring HPs have the skills and knowledge to deliver safe, informed and compassionate assessments. In addition, HPs have access to a wide range of Core Training and Guidance Materials. These resources provide clinical and functional information on a broad range of conditions, including FND.

Following the transfer of responsibilities to DWP, all training and guidance materials are undergoing a comprehensive review and update. A dedicated team is leading this work to ensure materials remain aligned with national best practice standards, supported by independent clinical experts who provide external quality assurance of content.

The department keeps its guidance under review to ensure it remains accurate, reflects current clinical understanding and supports fair and consistent decision making.