Committees

Health assessments for benefits

Inquiry

The Committee investigated the assessment processes for health-related benefits. These include Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. The Committee is focusing on how the Department for Work and Pensions can improve the application and assessment processes for these benefits.

The Committee looked into:

  • How DWP could improve the quality of its assessments;
  • Lessons from the pandemic, including whether changes DWP made to the assessment processes then should continue;
  • How DWP could make applying for benefits more straightforward for claimants

Read an Easy Read summary of the health assessments for benefits report

Watch a video summary of the health assessments for benefits report in British Sign Language

Read the large print version of the report

 

We can’t help you with individual problems that you’re having with your benefits. The following organisations may be able to give you support or advice:

Citizens Advice - For independent, free advice provided by a network of charities online, over the phone and in person on a wide variety of issues including benefits, work, debt, housing, family and immigration.

You can contact an adviser through Citizens Advice’s national phone service:

Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848Advicelink (Wales): 0800 702 2020 

Adviceline is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

StepChange – For independent, free debt advice.

Call 0800 138 1111, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm.

We know that our inquiry raises issues that might be difficult or upsetting for you. You can contact the 24-hour Samaritans helpline on 116 123 if you feel low or anxious and need someone to talk to, or email them on jo@samaritans.org

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:59pm on 1 June 2022.

Upcoming events

View all events

No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Wednesday 20 July 2022
9:30am Public
Health assessments for benefits - Oral evidence 20 July 2022
9:30am
  • Chloe Smith MP (Minister of State (Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work) at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Gill Holmes (Contract Management and Partner Delivery Director at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Katie Farrington (Director General for Disability, Health and Pensions at Department for Work and Pensions)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 29 June 2022
9:00am Public
Oral evidence session 29 June 2022
Health assessments for benefits - Oral evidence
9:00am
  • Ben Macpherson MSP (Minister for Social Security and Local Government at Scottish Government)
  • Matthew Duff (Disability Benefits Policy Manager at Scottish Government)
  • Professor Paul Knight OBE (Chief Officer Health and Social Care Operations at Social Security Scotland)
The work of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; The cost of living - Oral evidence
9:45am
  • Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey (Secretary of State at Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Peter Schofield (Permanent Secretary at Department for Work and Pensions)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 22 June 2022
9:15am Public
Health assessments for benefits - Oral evidence 22 June 2022
9:15am
  • Professor Ben Barr (Professor in Applied Public Health Research at University of Liverpool)
  • Dr Ben Baumberg Geiger (Reader in Sociology and Social Policy at University of Kent)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 25 May 2022
9:15am Public
Health assessments for benefits - Oral evidence 25 May 2022
9:15am
  • Stuart Paterson (Client Executive Partner at Independent Assessment Services)
  • Dr Barrie McKillop (Clinical Director at Independent Assessment Services)
  • Antony King (Managing Director and Client Partner of Capita Health & Welfare at Capita)
  • Laura Erskine (Occupational Therapist in Forensic Mental Health at Capita)
10:15am
  • Emma-Jane Bannister (Customer Director at Maximus)
  • Suzie Frew (Lead Nurse and Head of Quality at Maximus)
  • Dr Paul Williams (UK Division President at Maximus)
Room 15, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.