The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has moved to clarify a crucial aspect of how it assesses claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), specifically addressing concerns over the use of a 'set symptoms list'.
Focus on Function, Not Just Diagnosis
In a significant statement, the DWP has confirmed that PIP assessments "do not evaluate claimants based on their medical diagnosis or health condition alone". This clarification came in response to a question posed by Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord to DWP chief Pat McFadden regarding the accuracy of symptom lists used in assessments for people with fibromyalgia.
Sir Stephen Timms, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, emphasised the point, stating: "The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) are functional assessments." He explained that claimants are not assessed against a predetermined checklist of symptoms for any specific condition when they attend an assessment.
How Assessments Actually Work
Instead of focusing on a diagnosis, the assessment process is designed to understand how a claimant's condition affects their daily life and mobility. The core aim is to gauge the functional impact – that is, how the health issue limits a person's ability to carry out everyday activities.
The DWP stated its commitment to ensuring people with fibromyalgia and other conditions receive high-quality, accurate assessments. All health professionals (HPs) who carry out these assessments undergo comprehensive training in disability analysis, with a focus on understanding this functional impact.
Ongoing Review and Expert Input
To support accurate assessments for conditions like fibromyalgia, the DWP provides suppliers with core training and guidance materials. These resources include detailed clinical and functional information relevant to the condition.
Importantly, all training and guidance materials are currently undergoing a comprehensive review and update. A dedicated team is leading this work to ensure materials align with national best practice standards. The department is also engaging independent clinical experts to provide external quality assurance, helping to ensure the content remains accurate and relevant.
This move is likely to be welcomed by claimants and advocacy groups who have long argued that variable and complex conditions cannot be fairly assessed against a rigid list of expected symptoms.
