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How Atos and Capita will deliver PIP assessments
New Disability Benefit Consortium report raises concerns about the delivery of the new assessment -
‘The DBC presented both providers with a list of ten pledges for a fair and effective assessment, based on the concerns voiced by those they represent. Both companies have detailed how they will try to meet each pledge, revealing stark differences between providers. For example, Capita will try to ensure applicants with certain conditions will be matched with assessors who have specific expertise in that area, which the DBC believes will lead to fairer outcomes, whereas Atos will randomly assign assessors.
Issues with the assessments could result in applicants not being awarded the benefits they need to help cover the additional costs of having a disability.
Other key issues and differences included:
* Atos will only offer assessments at home to applicants who meet a range of criteria set out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), whereas Capita will aim to offer home assessments to around 60% of applicants
* Capita have asked the DWP to let them offer audio recording of assessments to applicants, but have not yet received permission to do so’
here’s a link to press release -
Also, breaking news - and thanks to Jon Shaw at CPAG Scotland for sending it to us - here’s the DWP’s response to the DBC report including that -
‘The Department endorses the intention behind the pledges put forward by the DBC. Indeed, much of the content of the pledges is evident in the PIP service specification against which providers on the health and disability assessment framework delivered their bids. The DWP has set out very clear rules on how assessments will be carried out ensuring that the PIP arrangements best meet the needs of disabled people, including communicating in an appropriate format, offering accessible assessment centres, and engaging with claimant representative groups to ensure, and improve, the quality of service.
Following the competition, Atos and Capita signed contracts with the Department and are now required to deliver in line with those contracts. In light of these contractual obligations we do not believe it is appropriate for the assessment providers to sign up to any other PIP related requirements, such as the DBC pledges. The tender documentation for PIP, including the specification, is available on the Government’s contracts finder website.’
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/consortium-report-dwp-response.pdf