DWP introduces major change for PIP and disability benefit assessments – started June 29 | Personal Finance | Finance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) introduced an important change regarding some health assessments last month. From June 29, all face-to-face and telephone health assessments for disability and sickness benefits are now audio recorded as standard, in a move the DWP says will help improve transparency in the benefit system.

It means “claimants doing assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Work Capability Assessments (WCA) in Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance, and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) will have their assessment automatically recorded, unless they choose to opt out”, the department says.

Explaining the decision, the DWP said “feedback from disabled people, the organisations that represent them and disability-focused research” found that “some disabled people who claim health and disability benefits lack trust in the health assessment process”.

It says the new approach makes good on a commitment first made in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, published in March last year, setting out the intention to introduce recording as standard across assessments.

The DWP notes that the decision-making process will still involve written reports, “with audio recordings providing a more accurate record should that be required”.

Before the change, audio recording was available on an opt-in basis, and was used by fewer than 3% of claimants, according to the DWP.

Claimants will be able to get a recording of what was said in the assessment if they need to check what was said at a later date, or decide appeal their initial benefit award.

The DWP says the recordings will also be used as a learning tool to help identify potential improvements to the quality of assessments.

Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “Improving transparency and trust in the benefits system is one of this government’s key aims, which is why we’re making this important change.

“Audio recording health assessments as standard will mean we are available to make improvements and increase assessment quality, resulting in a better experience for claimants.”