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<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>
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