Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 38
Following our predecessor’s 2018 Report, the Government commissioned research into the impacts of health assessment...
Recommendation
Following our predecessor’s 2018 Report, the Government commissioned research into the impacts of health assessment questionnaires and is now feeding that learning into its policy development. We have also heard important insight from academics on the mental health impacts of assessments, but studies have been sporadic and rely on the data made available to them. As the Government reforms health assessments, quality research will be vital to measure success. The Government should commit to undertaking regular reviews of the mental health impacts of its end-to-end process of health assessments, including comparing them to assessments undertaken elsewhere in Government, such as social care. It should also ensure external researchers have access to good quality, anonymised data to complement this with independent research.
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on the balance between providing sufficient time for claimants to return evidence and ensuring timely awards, particularly regarding the ESA50, UC50, and PIP2 forms; however, it does not commit to undertaking regular reviews of the mental health impacts of its end-to-end process of health assessments or ensuring external researchers have access to good quality, anonymised data.
Paragraph Reference:
38
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Health assessments for benefits 9 are intended to strike the right balance between providing a claimant with sufficient time to return their evidence and getting the correct award in place at the earliest opportunity. For example, regarding the ESA50 and UC50, delaying return of the questionnaire by a further four weeks would lead to a later assessment and delays in being paid any entitlement to the Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) component and, in Universal Credit, access to the work allowance. For PIP, safeguards are already in place to allow for additional time for claimants to submit their PIP2. These include an automatic extension of the due date by a further 14 days, applied when a reminder of the need to return the form is sent. In addition to the automatic extension, claimants can ask for additional time to complete their PIP2, and can do so on more than one occasion where they have good reason. For the WCA, if a claimant contacts the Department to inform it that they need more time or help with completing their ESA50 or UC50, it will provide them with help and support where necessary, including signposting them to the special helpline operated by the WCA provider, where dedicated advisors can answer questions and provide help with completing the form. In cases where difficulties result in the ESA50 or UC50 being returned late, the Department asks the claimant to explain the reasons, which it takes fully into consideration.