The Government intends to extend the duration of awards for people making new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims from April onwards in a bid to tackle the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) backlog.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the move is aimed at freeing up healthcare professionals to conduct additional face-to-face assessments and complete more WCA reassessments.
Currently, the interval between PIP award reviews can be as brief as nine months, with the majority of recipients experiencing no alteration to their award upon review.
This is set to be lengthened for most PIP claimants aged 25 and above to a minimum of three years for new applications, increasing to five years at their subsequent review should they continue to qualify.
These changes are distinct from the Timms Review, which will examine PIP’s function, eligibility criteria for the daily living and mobility components, the assessment procedure and how these support disabled individuals in achieving improved health outcomes, enhanced living standards and increased independence.
The new measure in April will come into force alongside Universal Credit modifications that reduce the differential between payments for unemployment and long-term illness. The modifications will enable the UK Government to fulfil a pledge made in the Pathways to Work Green Paper to boost face-to-face assessments following their suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic, with agreements established by the former government mandating 80% of assessments be conducted virtually.
The share of face-to-face assessments will rise, with those for PIP climbing from 6% in 2024 (57,000) to 30% of all assessments, whilst the WCA will increase from 13% in 2024 (74,000) to 30%, reports the Daily Record.
The Government said it is implementing these modifications and “reforming the broken welfare system it inherited” by extending the interval between assessments to verify whether a claimant’s condition continues to qualify them for PIP, enabling health professionals to conduct more face-to-face assessments and complete additional WCA reassessments.
It added: “Reassessments play an important role in taking account of how changes in health conditions and disabilities affect people over time.”
Overall, the measures are projected to save the UK taxpayer £1.9 billion by the conclusion of 2030/31 and arrives alongside employment support targeted at sick or disabled people including Connect to Work, and the redeployment of 1,000 work coaches.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden recently said: “We’re committed to reforming the welfare system we inherited, which for too long has written off millions as too sick to work.
“That is why we are ramping up the number of assessments we do face-to-face and taking action to tackle the inherited backlog of people waiting for a Work Capability Assessment.
“These reforms will allow us to save £1.9 billion, creating a welfare state that supports those who need it whilst helping people into work and delivering fairness to the taxpayer.”
