Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance is given to work capability assessors who deal with claimants who suffer from chronic fluctuating conditions.

It is recognised that over time most conditions fluctuate to some degree and that it is therefore essential that the assessment works for people with fluctuating conditions. The Health Professional carrying out the assessment is directed not to focus on an individual’s ‘best day’ or take a ‘snapshot’ of their condition on the day of their face-to-face consultation but to take a view of the claimant’s ability over a longer period of time. This presents a more coherent picture of the disabling effects of the claimant’s health condition.

The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) engages with relevant stakeholders in developing their training for Health Professionals, who receive comprehensive training in disability analysis. This includes a functional evaluation as to how medical conditions and the long-term medical treatment of those conditions affect an individual over time.