Select Committee · Work and Pensions Committee

Health assessments for benefits

Status: Closed Opened: 27 Sep 2021 Closed: 7 Aug 2023 25 recommendations 4 conclusions 1 report

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 … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Health assessments for benefits HC 128 14 Apr 2023 29 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
13 Recommendation Fifth Report - Health assessments for b… Accepted in Part

We welcome the improvements that have been made on accessibility but are concerned that these...

We welcome the improvements that have been made on accessibility but are concerned that these efforts have not gone far enough. Support and guidance are also welcome, but simplifying forms will improve the experience for all. In response to this Report, the Department should detail what changes it plans to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The current PIP2 form is under review and the Department is planning changes to ensure the form is both simple to fill out and accessible, using a user-centred design approach; claimants now have the option to submit the form by email.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions

Oral evidence sessions

9 sessions
Date Witnesses
20 Jul 2022 Chloe Smith MP · Cabinet Office, Gill Holmes · Department for Work and Pensions, Katie Farrington · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗
29 Jun 2022 Ben Macpherson MSP · Scottish Government, Matthew Duff · Scottish Government, Peter Schofield · Department for Work and Pensions, Professor Paul Knight OBE · Social Security Scotland, Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
22 Jun 2022 Dr Ben Baumberg Geiger · University of Kent, Professor Ben Barr · University of Liverpool View ↗
25 May 2022 Antony King · Capita, Dr Barrie McKillop · Independent Assessment Services, Dr Paul Williams · Maximus, Emma-Jane Bannister · Maximus, Laura Erskine · Capita, Stuart Paterson · Independent Assessment Services, Suzie Frew · Maximus View ↗
11 May 2022 Aaron Dryden · Carers UK, Caroline Selman · Public Law Project, Daphne Hall · National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA), Dr Kieran Sharrock · British Medical Association (BMA), Hannah Nicholls-Harrison · Disability Benefits Consortium, Mark Jackson · Marie Curie, Minesh Patel · Mind View ↗
30 Mar 2022 Andy Pike · The Royal British Legion, Caroline Cooke · Forces in Mind Trust, Philip Martin · University of Salford/Sanctions, Support and Service Leavers View ↗
16 Mar 2022 Catherine Hale · Chronic Illness Inclusion Project, Jane Hunt · Association of Disabled Professionals, Jasmine Wyeth · Rethink Mental Illness, Patricia Vespucio · GIPSIL, Sarah Rawlings · MS Society, Tracey Lazard · Inclusion London View ↗
12 Jan 2022 Charles Smith · Citizens Advice, Evan John · Sense, Hannah Nicholls-Harrison · Mencap, Helen Wild · Down’s Syndrome Association, Joanne Gordon · Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum UK, Louise Rubin · Scope, Marc Francis · Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K), Morgan Vine · Independent Age, Sophie Corlett · Mind View ↗
1 Dec 2021 Dr Paul Litchfield CBE · Department for Work and Pensions, Paul Gray CB · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗

Who gave evidence

44 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Aaron Dryden · Director of Carer Support Carers UK 1
Andy Pike · Head of Policy and Research The Royal British Legion 1
Antony King · Managing Director and Client Partner of Capita He… Capita 1
Ben Macpherson MSP · Minister for Social Security and Local Government Scottish Government 1
Caroline Cooke · Head of Policy Forces in Mind Trust 1
Caroline Selman · Senior Research Fellow Public Law Project 1
Catherine Hale · Director Chronic Illness Inclusion Project 1
Charles Smith · Senior Policy Researcher Citizens Advice 1
Chloe Smith MP · Minister of State Cabinet Office 1
Daphne Hall · Co Chair National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA) 1
Dr Barrie McKillop · Clinical Director Independent Assessment Services 1
Dr Ben Baumberg Geiger · Reader in Sociology and Social Policy University of Kent 1
Dr Kieran Sharrock · General Practitioners Committee (England) British Medical Association (BMA) 1
Dr Paul Litchfield CBE · Leader of the 2013 and 2014 independent reviews o… Department for Work and Pensions 1
Dr Paul Williams · UK Division President Maximus 1
Emma-Jane Bannister · Customer Director Maximus 1
Evan John · Policy and Public Affairs Advisor Sense 1
Gill Holmes · Contract Management and Partner Delivery Director Department for Work and Pensions 1
Hannah Nicholls-Harrison · Policy Co-Chair Disability Benefits Consortium 1
Hannah Nicholls-Harrison · Policy Officer Mencap 1
Helen Wild · Welfare Benefits Advisor Down’s Syndrome Association 1
Jane Hunt · Chair Association of Disabled Professionals 1
Jasmine Wyeth · Senior Policy Officer Rethink Mental Illness 1
Joanne Gordon · Chair Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum UK 1
Katie Farrington · Director General, Disability, Health and Pensions Department for Work and Pensions 1
Laura Erskine · Occupational Therapist in Forensic Mental Health Capita 1
Louise Rubin · Head of Policy and Campaigns Scope 1
Marc Francis · Director of Policy and Campaigns Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K) 1
Mark Jackson · Policy Manager Marie Curie 1
Matthew Duff · Disability Benefits Policy Manager Scottish Government 1
Minesh Patel · Associate Director of Policy and Influencing Mind 1
Morgan Vine · Director of Policy and Influencing Independent Age 1
Patricia Vespucio · Team Leader, Advice Service GIPSIL 1
Paul Gray CB · Leader of the independent reviews of PIP Department for Work and Pensions 1
Peter Schofield · Permanent Secretary Department for Work and Pensions 1
Philip Martin · Research Fellow University of Salford/Sanctions, Support and Service Leavers 1
Professor Ben Barr · Professor in Applied Public Health Research University of Liverpool 1
Professor Paul Knight OBE · Chief Officer Health and Social Care Operations Social Security Scotland 1
Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey · Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Sarah Rawlings · Executive Director of Research & External Affairs MS Society 1
Showing 40 of 44.

Correspondence

3 letters
DateDirectionTitle
12 Jul 2023 Correspondence with the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work relating …
7 Sep 2022 Correspondence from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work following…
7 Sep 2022 Correspondence from Social Security Scotland in connection with the health asse…