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 Wednesday 1 June 2022.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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Fifth Report - Health assessments for benefits
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
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HC 128
Report
Response to this report
Sixth Special Report - Health assessments for benefits: Government response to Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2022–23
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246KB
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HC 1558
Special Report
Large Print - Health assessments for benefits
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
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HC 128
Report
Response to this report
Large Print - Health assessments for benefits: Government response
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433KB
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Special Report
Sixth Special Report - Health assessments for benefits: Government response to Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2022–23
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
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246KB
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HC 1558
Special Report

Correspondence

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Correspondence with the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work relating to the Government's Response to the Health assessments for benefits report
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
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Correspondence
Correspondence from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work following oral evidence for the health assessments for benefits inquiry
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
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HC 128
Correspondence
Correspondence from Social Security Scotland in connection with the health assessments for benefits inquiry
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
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181KB
HC 128
Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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20 July 2022
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
Witnesses 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), and Katie Farrington (Director General for Disability, Health and Pensions at Department for Work and Pensions)
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Oral Evidence
29 June 2022
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
Witnesses Ben Macpherson MSP (Minister for Social Security and Local Government at Scottish Government), Matthew Duff (Disability Benefits Policy Manager at Scottish Government), and Professor Paul Knight OBE (Chief Officer Health and Social Care Operations at Social Security Scotland)
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140KB
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Oral Evidence
22 June 2022
Inquiry Health assessments for benefits
Witnesses Professor Ben Barr (Professor in Applied Public Health Research at University of Liverpool), and Dr Ben Baumberg Geiger (Reader in Sociology and Social Policy at University of Kent)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Anonymised (HAB0117)
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Ms Jayne Gale (Art Psychotherapist and Council clerk at Creative Futures Art Therapy) (HAB0147)
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40KB
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Mrs Joanne Gordon (Chair at Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum UK) (HAB0113)
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63KB
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11KB

Other publications

No other publications published.

Contact us

We can’t usually help you with an individual problem or a specific complaint.

  • Email: workpencom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 8976 | 020 7219 1679 (Media)
  • Address: Work and Pensions Committee | House of Commons | London | SW1A 0AA