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1466512

registered interest
date	26/05/2022
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
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 adequacy of the time taken to (a) conduct health assessments and (b) implement the results in the Employment and Support Allowance scheme.
tabling member constituency	Isle of Wight
tabling member printed	Bob Seely
uin	10010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2022 answer text <p>The Shaping Future Support: The Health and Disability Green Paper explored how the benefits system can better meet the needs of claimants now and in the future by improving claimant experience of our services, enabling independent living and improving employment outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that improvements could be made to the assessment process and we plan to publish a Health and Disability White Paper later this year.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 08/06/2022 10:41:05 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
tabling member	4681 label Biography information for Bob Seely

1277030

registered interest
date	15/01/2021
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has provided to benefit assessment companies to ensure they are proactively seeking further medical evidence from claimants who are almost at the 365 day limit for Employment and Support Allowance and have not yet been assessed.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	138433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2021 answer text <p>There are no plans to extend the time limit for people claiming contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) who reach their 365-day limit and have not had a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).</p><p> </p><p>Due to the Covid-19 pandemic face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits remain suspended. We are continuing to assess as many people as we are able to on paper evidence or via telephone assessments. Claimants are encouraged to provide all the evidence they have that is relevant to their case at the outset of their claim, including evidence supplied by their GP or other professionals, such as support workers, carers and community mental health nurses. The healthcare professionals who carry out assessments are expected to seek further evidence where it would help them provide advice to a DWP decision maker on a person’s claim.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, we now have a ring-fenced operational team in place to identify contributory ESA claims that we can progress in the absence of face-to-face assessments – for instance, those where further evidence might exist on other DWP benefit systems. If claimants have further evidence they think might help progress their claim, they should contact the Department.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends, their income is reduced because they cannot work due to disability or a health condition and they require further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 138432 138435 question first answered 20/01/2021 13:10:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1143313

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of employment support allowance assessment meetings were carried out (a) at the claimant’s home and (b) in assessment centres in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	284744
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Between August 2018 and July 2019, 2.2 per cent of face-to-face Work Capability Assessments for Employment and Support Allowance claims were carried out at the claimant’s home and 97.8 per cent were carried out in an assessment centre.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 09/09/2019 11:04:33 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1064401

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average number of days have been for her Department to re-assess entitlement to employment and support allowance from that allowance being granted in (a) Barnley, (b) south Yorkshire and (c) nationally in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	223926
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 25/02/2019 15:21:52 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

750332

registered interest
date	10/07/2017
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure that the outcome of assessments conducted by his Department on people seeking to claim employment and support allowance are correct and (b) reduce the number of decisions based on such assessments which are overturned on appeal.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	3772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>a) To ensure that the outcome of assessments conducted by his Department on people seeking to claim employment and support allowance are correct</p><p> </p><p>With regard to the actual Work Capability Assessment (WCA), the Department robustly monitors the performance of the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA). They are independently audited to ensure that the advice provided to the Department’s decision makers is of suitable quality, fully explained, and justified. Assessment reports deemed unacceptable are returned to CHDA for reworking. The Department continues to work extensively with the assessment provider to make improvements to guidance, training and audit procedures in order to ensure that a quality service is maintained. All healthcare professionals delivering assessments for CHDA complete rigorous training before they are allowed to undertake WCAs. The healthcare professionals employed by CHDA are required to complete the agreed elements of Continuing Medical Education, as set out in the contract each year. CHDA undertake continuous review and audit of all healthcare professionals, with clinical mentoring available as required.</p><p> </p><p>b) To reduce the number of decisions based on such assessments which are overturned on appeal.</p><p> </p><p>Any claimant wishing to dispute a decision made based on their assessment is entitled to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The first stage of which is for the Department to conduct a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) whereby a different decision maker undertakes a full review of the case and considers any additional evidence provided. The Department undertakes this review in an attempt to ensure before appeal that our decision is as robust and accurate as possible.</p><p> </p><p>However, should the decision remain the same and the claimant still disagree, they can submit an appeal directly with Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS).</p><p> </p><p>The Department now has Presenting Officers attending 50% of all ESA Appeals at HMCTS ensuring that where the Department believes the decision to be robust and accurate, we are adequately represented. This also enables us to gather significant feedback that will inform the quality of our decision making going forward.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/07/2017 14:18:19 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

732532

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria his Department uses to select employment and support allowance claimants for medical examination.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	1067
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2017 answer text <p>The Criteria can be found at 1.4.1 and 3.8.2.2 of the Work Capability Assessment Handbook available here:</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>More detailed advice for healthcare professionals is contained in the Filework Guidelines.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 29/06/2017 15:52:50 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

732533

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the minimum qualification requirements are for people conducting medical examinations on employment and support allowance claimants.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	1068
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2017 answer text <p>The information you have requested can be found here <a href="https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/1644334/" target="_blank">https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/1644334/</a> in Schedule 2.1, paragraph 46, page 52 of the Health Disability Assessment Service Contract.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 29/06/2017 10:42:51 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

732534

registered interest
date	26/06/2017
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints have been made by employment and support allowance claimants after medical examinations.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	1069
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2017 answer text <p>Just over 0.6% of all face-to-face Work Capability Assessments carried out in the last twelve months generated a complaint to the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA).</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 29/06/2017 10:45:33 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

389958

registered interest
date	14/07/2015
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the availability of doctor's appointments for employment and support allowance assessments in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Caerphilly County Borough area.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	7160
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Claimants attending Employment and Support Allowance assessments are seen by a Healthcare Professional who may be a fully qualified occupational therapist, physiotherapist, nurse, or doctor. Certain medical conditions however, have been designated as requiring a doctor’s assessment, for example: stroke, head-injury, multiple-sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy and, spina bifida.</p><p> </p><p>The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments is able to provide doctors to assess designated doctor-only cases in all parts of the country.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 20/07/2015 16:17:08 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

389367

registered interest
date	13/07/2015
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on people waiting for an employment and support allowance assessment of the transition of supplier from Atos to Maximus in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Caerphilly County Borough.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	6823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>There was a successful transition from Atos Healthcare to Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (operated by MAXIMUS) right across the country. No changes were made to the Employment and Support Allowance assessment processes, so claimants would not be affected by the change of provider.</p><p> </p><p>Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) have introduced several changes to improve the overall customer experience, for example increasing the number of Mental Health Champions and introduced a new service to help claimants complete their ESA50 questionnaire.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 20/07/2015 14:45:55 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans