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1646468
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-06-21more like thismore than 2023-06-21
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 remove filter
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Work Capability Assessment: Autism more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department offers autistic people exemption from repeated assessment. more like this
tabling member constituency Cynon Valley more like this
tabling member printed
Beth Winter more like this
uin 190702 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-06-29more like thismore than 2023-06-29
answer text <p>Repeat assessments serve an important role, as they ensure that claimants are receiving the amount of benefit that correctly reflects the extent of the impact that their disability or health condition has on their functional ability. However, we recognise that some people have severe conditions that are unlikely to change.</p><p> </p><p>As outlined in the Health &amp; Disability White Paper, we are testing a Severe Disability Group so those with severe and lifelong conditions that are unlikely to improve can benefit from a simplified process without ever needing to complete a detailed application form or go through a face-to-face assessment or frequent re-assessments. It is being tested on a small scale across a range of health conditions to make sure it works as intended.</p><p> </p><p>We have also made changes to reduce unnecessary reassessments. For instance, the Severe Conditions Criteria (SCC) were introduced in 2017 and are applied during the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). They identify claimants who have severe disabling lifelong conditions that will never improve, and whose level of function would always mean that they are unlikely ever to be able to move into work. Claimants who meet the SCC will not be routinely reassessed.</p><p> </p><p>For Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants, we have ensured that people whose needs will not improve and most people over State Pension age, receive an ongoing PIP award with a ‘light touch’ review at the 10-year point. Ongoing awards can be applied to any level or combination of award outcome, so long as the person’s needs are unlikely to change. A review can take place sooner if a person’s needs change.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to supporting people with autism to access the right benefits and the right support. This is why all assessors conducting WCAs and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments receive training on assessing people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.</p>
answering member constituency Corby more like this
answering member printed Tom Pursglove more like this
question first answered
less than 2023-06-29T11:30:48.077Zmore like thismore than 2023-06-29T11:30:48.077Z
answering member
4369
label Biography information for Tom Pursglove more like this
tabling member
4809
label Biography information for Beth Winter more like this