The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed plans to increase the number of face-to-face assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland, following a shift to remote assessments during the pandemic. Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, stated during parliamentary questions that the DWP will boost health professionals in assessment centres to facilitate more in-person consultations.
Currently, the majority of PIP assessments are conducted over the phone, with 70,000 such assessments in June alone, representing 75.6% of all consultations that month. However, Sir Stephen emphasised the need to move back towards face-to-face assessments while retaining remote options for claimants who require them. He noted that the DWP is working with assessment providers to increase the proportion of in-person assessments.
The announcement comes after Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello raised concerns about remote assessments causing anxiety among constituents in West Dorset. He described cases where repeated phone assessments triggered severe panic attacks and high blood pressure, leading to lasting psychological harm. Sir Stephen acknowledged that anxiety can affect claimants in both remote and face-to-face settings, and stressed the importance of offering different assessment types to meet individual needs.
PIP assessments are not medical examinations but opportunities for claimants to discuss how their condition affects them. Health professionals conduct the assessment and provide a report to DWP decision-makers. Claimants awaiting a review are advised to have their PIP evidence form handy for any assessment type, and to be prepared to discuss their condition in detail, even if previously documented.
The DWP's move aims to balance accessibility with the need for accurate assessments, ensuring that claimants receive appropriate support under the PIP system.
