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1312442

registered interest
date	27/04/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the letter of 24 March 2021 from the Minister for Disabled People to the Work and Pensions Committee, how many claimants her Department has identified as being ineligible for a remote Work Capability Assessment in each month since the suspension of face-to-face assessments on 16 March 2020 in response to the covid-19 outbreak; and how many of those claimants so identified her Department has now assessed.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	188048
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>We have interpreted your question to mean how many claimants have been identified as not suitable for a telephone Work Capability Assessment (WCA) in each month since the 16 March 2020; and how many of those claimants have now been assessed.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested is not available.</p><p> </p><p>Initial guidance for those identified as not suitable for telephone assessments has evolved since WCA telephone assessments were introduced in May 2020. In addition, further case reviews, changes of circumstance or further medical information for example, may lead to a change in advice over whether a telephone assessment is appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>DWP continues to work with Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA), to minimise the number of people identified as not suitable for a telephone assessment and we are currently exploring alternative ways of conducting health assessments. For example, we continue to complete paper based assessments and make recommendations based on the written evidence available where possible and have introduced some video assessments where appropriate. We are planning to resume face to face WCAs next month for those who we are unable to fully assess by other channels.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/04/2021 08:36:50 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1279170

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department is providing for claimants of (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension where the health assessors find that a face-to-face interview is required but cannot be completed under covid-19 restrictions.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>The safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. As a result, all face to face assessments for sickness and disability benefits have remained suspended since March 2020. Throughout the pandemic, for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)/Universal Credit (UC) we have continued to assess people on paper evidence where we can as normal. We have also introduced telephone assessments and are working to increase the number of these assessments in order that we can make the right decision for as many people as possible, while keeping people safe.</p><p> </p><p>Where it is not possible to carry out a PIP telephone assessment we are making a decision based on all the evidence available to ensure any payment is not delayed. For ESA/UC, claimants will remain on their current award until we are able to gather the evidence needed for a recommendation to be made (or until contributory ESA ends)); any additional amounts the claimant may qualify for after their assessment will be backdated to ensure no long-term loss. Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances if they require further financial support.</p><p> </p><p>The question refers to ‘disablement pension’; we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). Following a successful trial, we have now begun paper based assessments in IIDB for certain prescribed diseases. To protect our most vulnerable claimants with the most serious health conditions we are continuing to process IIDB claims for people with terminal illnesses, and those for Fast Track prescribed diseases as they can be assessed without the need for a face to face assessment. Once face-to-face assessments resume, awards will be backdated to the date of application to ensure claimants do not lose out on funds they are entitled to.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 13:18:46 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279171

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of claims for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension which are pending due to a face-to-face health and disability assessment in (i) Lewisham Deptford, (ii) London and (iii) the UK which cannot be completed under covid-19 restrictions.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2021 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-21/141531" target="_blank">141531</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Personal Independence Payment assessment data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content</a></p><p> </p><p>The PIP clearance times are available to October 2020 and can be focused down to region level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ESA clearance times are available to June 2020 at a national level only. The clearance times are only currently available to March 2020, but can be focused down to region and local authority level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The question enquires into ‘disablement pension’, we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) which this Department administers<strong>. </strong>The Department publishes quarterly statistics on claims and assessments under IIDB scheme in Great Britain here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest claims information is to March 2020, with the lowest geographical level available of Region. Statistics to June 2020 will be published on 23 February 2021</p><p> </p><p>Further geographical breakdowns and average clearance times are not readily available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 141533 question first answered 29/01/2021 15:09:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279173

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance has been given to health assessors carrying out health and disability assessments for new claims for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension submitted during covid-19 national lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Health Professionals continue to deliver PIP assessments in accordance with the PIP Assessment Guide published on GOV.UK. The link to which I have included below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers</a></p><p> </p><p>Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Healthcare Professionals, continue to deliver ESA Work Capability Assessments (WCA) in accordance with the WCA Handbook published on GOV.UK. The link to which I have included below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals</a></p><p> </p><p>Our Assessment Providers, Independent Assessment Services (IAS), Capita and Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) have supported their Health Professionals to carry out health and disability assessments throughout all COVID-19 lockdowns. Following the suspension of face to face assessments to ensure the safety of claimants, companions and staff, Health Professionals have been given additional training and guidance on conducting telephone assessments, which were introduced in PIP and ESA in response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>I have interpreted Disablement Pension to mean Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). The suspension of face to face assessments for IIDB means the majority of new claims are not being assessed at present. We continue to test new ways to carry out IIDB assessments and have now begun conducting paper based assessments for certain prescribed diseases.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 13:54:51 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1277716

registered interest
date	18/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance she has issued for people who cannot (a) access a face to face assessment due to covid-19 restrictions and (b) conduct a phone consultation due to the nature of their disability.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Dave Doogan
uin	139137
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2021 answer text <p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. As a result, all face to face assessments for sickness and disability benefits have remained suspended since March 2020.</p><p> </p><p>We are assessing as many people as we are able to on paper evidence or via telephone assessments. Individuals invited for a telephone assessment are encouraged to inform their assessment provider of any additional requirements they may have, and the provider will endeavour to meet any reasonable requests. This is explained to the individual in the initial invitation letter for all telephone assessments. For example, companions are able to join a telephone assessment, as they could for a face to face assessment.</p><p> </p><p>There will be some claimants for whom unfortunately there is insufficient evidence to make a decision on paper and who are unable to undertake a telephone assessment because of their health condition. We continue to develop and implement ways in which we can safely assess these individuals. For example, we are currently testing ways of supporting claimants with speech and hearing difficulties to safely participate in telephone assessments and continue to test video assessments. Claimants who we are unable to assess by telephone or video because of their health condition, in particular those not entitled to UC, will be prioritised when we are able to safely resume face to face assessments.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 139138 question first answered 21/01/2021 16:41:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4736 label Biography information for Dave Doogan

1258704

registered interest
date	07/12/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the feasibility of restarting face-to-face work capability assessments; and what plans her Department has to expedite the backlog of cases waiting for assessment.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	126162
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2020 answer text <p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March. This temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments would involve additional Covid-related safety measures, and guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic our immediate focus has been on supporting people impacted by COVID-19 by putting claims into payment as quickly as possible, as well as paying any additional benefit where claimants may be entitled to a higher award. We continue to complete paper based assessments where possible and have introduced telephone assessments.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 14/12/2020 18:11:54 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1257210

registered interest
date	01/12/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants have been assessed as needing face-to-face work capability assessments since March 2020.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	123515
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not held.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/12/2020 15:40:22 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1257212

registered interest
date	01/12/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many decisions have been reached based on work capability assessments made by telephone since March 2020.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	123517
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2020 answer text <p>The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/12/2020 16:09:13 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1201216

registered interest
date	08/06/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to publish data on the effectiveness of the legacy benefits system in responding to increased demand for work capability assessments including the (a) number of referrals for work capability assessments and (b) average length of time between notification of a health condition and referral for that work capability assessment being made during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	56075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes are published quarterly. The latest figures covering a) the number and outcome of completed initial and repeat WCAs by month of claim up to September 2019 and b) the median end-to-end clearance time which includes ‘claim registration to WCA referral’ by month of clearance up to December 2019 can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employment-and-support-allowance-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employment-and-support-allowance-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessment</a></p><p> </p><p>Additional breakdowns of the ESA WCA figures can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>The statistics for completed assessments to March 2020 and June 2020 will be published in September and December 2020 respectively and there are currently no plans to publish any additional statistics in those releases.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>The following special points should be noted:</strong></p><p>We have no plans to publish any additional statistics beyond the already agreed ESA WCA publication schedule.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The published statistics include:</p><p>a) WCA numbers and outcomes for completed initial and repeat assessments up to end of December 2019;</p><p>b) WCA outcomes by claim start date (up to September 2019) or WCA date (up to December 2019). WCA outcome information is only published for referrals that have completed the WCA and have an outcome;</p><p>c) Median end-to-end clearance time which includes ‘claim registration to WCA referral’ by month of clearance up to December 2019. The definition is shown below:</p><p>‘Claim registration to WCA referral' measures the time taken from claim registration date to the case's referral date to the WCA assessment provider. Only claims that have completed the WCA process and have an outcome are included. The claim registration date is the date the claimant has first contact with the Department when making a claim to ESA. Referral start date is the date the claimant is referred to the healthcare provider for assessment.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/06/2020 14:18:19 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft