DWP PIP claimants 'could face new assessment system'

More than 150,000 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants could be affected by trials of a new DWP assessment process.

The DWP has confirmed it is running a "small-scale trial" across around four per cent of PIP claims nationally as part of a programme known as Transform Decision Making. The trial forms part of the wider Health Transformation Programme, which aims to reform how disability benefit assessments are carried out. Disability Rights UK (DR UK) has warned the changes risk creating "chaos and injustice" for disabled claimants and has described the approach as a "recipe for disaster".

Under the current system, healthcare professionals such as nurses, physiotherapists and paramedics assess how a claimant's health condition or disability affects their daily life. They then recommend which PIP descriptors apply and the level of award they believe should be made.

According to Disability News Service (DNS), under the pilot scheme healthcare professionals are instead focused on gathering evidence and carrying out functional assessments, while DWP case managers take on a greater role in determining which descriptors apply and what level of benefit should be awarded. The concerns emerged after a whistleblower contacted Disability Rights UK.

The whistleblower claimed the changes had not undergone sufficient testing and warned that removing healthcare professionals from making recommendations could lead to less accurate decisions, particularly in complex cases involving fluctuating conditions and mental health issues.

They also raised concerns that an increase in incorrect decisions could result in more appeals and additional stress for claimants.

The pilot is understood to cover around four per cent of PIP cases nationally. With more than 3.8 million people currently receiving PIP, that suggests well over 150,000 claimants could potentially be affected if the trial is operating across the full caseload.

The DWP is also exploring whether similar changes could eventually be applied to the work capability assessment process used to determine eligibility for health-related benefits.

Fazilet Hadi, head of policy at Disability Rights UK, told DNS: "Stopping health professionals from making recommendations on the basis of their assessment and requiring them to solely pass information to DWP case managers to make the determination, is a recipe for disaster, which will result in thousands of poorly informed and inaccurate decisions."

She added that the move was particularly surprising given the Government's ongoing review of PIP, led by welfare minister Sir Stephen Timms, which ministers have said will involve disabled people in shaping future reforms.

The DWP rejected suggestions that final decision-making powers were being transferred away from officials.

A DWP spokesperson said: "Case managers already make all final PIP decisions – that has not changed. This small-scale trial is about re-balancing roles so that assessors focus on what they do best, freeing up capacity by reducing duplication, and empowering case managers to apply their own judgement based on all the evidence.”

The department said healthcare professionals would continue to carry out functional assessments and that case managers would still be able to seek advice and clarification from them before reaching a decision. The trial comes at a sensitive time for disability benefits policy.

The Government is already facing scrutiny over proposed reforms to PIP eligibility and is carrying out a wider review of the benefit system following concerns from disability charities and campaign groups about the impact of future changes on vulnerable claimants.

PIP is designed to help people with the extra costs associated with long-term health conditions and disabilities. The benefit is not means-tested and can be claimed by people whether they are in work or not. More than 3.8 million people across Britain currently receive the payment.