Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Paragraph: 158
We acknowledge that most disabled people and people with health conditions receive the core elements...
Conclusion
We acknowledge that most disabled people and people with health conditions receive the core elements of their claim on time. However, we find it troubling that, because of the time taken to complete the Work Capability Assessment process, people must wait much longer than five weeks to receive their full entitlement. Even beyond this, disabled people experience further delays, waiting on average four months for a WCA decision. Given that disabled or ill claimants face additional costs and challenges during the wait for their first payment, it is vital that people receive their full entitlement as quickly as possible. We have recommended elsewhere in this report that DWP prioritise the changes that are needed to the UC system to allow it to collect data about claimants’ characteristics, including impairment or health condition, in a systematic way. It needs that data to understand fully disabled people’s experience of making a claim for Universal Credit. DWP should investigate how it can speed up the WCA process. Four months, on average, is too long for a person to wait for their full award. In addition, the Department should continue to monitor and collect data on how long the WCA process is taking, and it should fast track any groups for whom data suggests the WCA takes the longest. Notwithstanding 84 Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment delays to the process, 13 weeks is still a long time. Disabled people and people with health conditions should not have to wait this long to receive the disability element of their award. DWP should commit to reducing the time taken to complete the WCA process.
Paragraph Reference:
158
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
During the 13-week assessment period, which applies to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and the 3-month relevant period which applies to UC, claimants will receive either the assessment rate of ESA, or the standard rate of UC. This period of time allows the assessment provider to decide on the appropriate course of action (this could include requesting further medical evidence, for a paper-based review to be undertaken, for the claimant to be invited to a face to face assessment etc.), and then for the Department to make the decision. It is important that the claimant journey allows sufficient time to make fully considered decisions, based on the best available evidence. The 13-week period for ESA and the 3-month relevant period for UC ensures equity for our claimants. It would be unfair to move some claimants onto the main phase of benefit earlier than others because of circumstances beyond their control. There are exceptions for people who are terminally ill (with a life expectancy of six months or less), or for people who have previously claimed and returned to the benefit under the linking rules. As the Committee will be aware, the Department is committed to delivering an improved system for claimants that are nearing the end of their lives and is working across government to bring forward proposals. An evaluation was launched last year and has identified three themes: the need to change the six-month rule, the need to improve consistency and the need to raise awareness of available support. In relation to available data, the Department is committed to collecting, monitoring and publishing data on the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) process. ESA WCA National Statistics are published on a quarterly basis, and the Department is developing data on UC WCAs. The Department has been working with external stakeholders to inform future changes to assessments. The forthcoming Health and Disability Green Paper will focus on how we can improve our services for disabled people and people with health conditions. The Green Paper will explore assessment reform options and seek views on future changes.