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<p>We continually keep the assessment process for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) under review.</p><p> </p><p>As announced
on 1 October 2016, we will stop requiring people with the most severe, lifetime conditions
to be repeatedly assessed for ESA and the Universal Credit equivilant. Over the coming
months we will work with our health assessment provider, medical professionals and
other stakeholders to develop a set of criteria to switch off re-assessments for people
with the most severe health conditions or disabilities.</p><p> </p><p>PIP already
recognises that for the most severely disabled claimants, the award review process
could seem unnecessarily intrusive. The length of a PIP award is based on an individual’s
circumstances and can vary from nine months to an on-going award with a light touch
review at the 10 year point. As such, existing PIP claimants with the most severe,
lifetime disabilities, whose functional ability has remained the same, are more likely
to have their evidence reviewed by a DWP Decision-Maker and will not need to have
another face-to-face assessment with a healthcare professional. Regular reviews for
PIP claimants are a key feature of the benefit, and ensure that benefit payments accurately
match the current needs of claimants.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to engage with
stakeholders to improve the service we provide. We are committed to ensuring that
the review processes work effectively across the spectrum of disabilities and health
conditions.</p><p> </p><p>In addition the Green Paper, launched on 31 October 2016
explores a range of options, and points to long-term reform, including how we might
simplify and improve the assessment process.</p>
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