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18 February, 2021 Open access

DWP confirms that it has ‘increased the range of outcomes’ that can be provided following a telephone work capability assessment

Department adds that it will be carrying out a second telephone assessment for claimants who had a previous assessment which did not result in a recommendation or decision

The DWP has confirmed that it has 'increased the range of outcomes' that can be provided following a telephone work capability assessment (WCA).

In Touchbase published on 5 February 2021, the DWP announced that it was - 

'... now expanding the types of [WCAs] that can go through to decision which will result in an increase in the number of Limited Capability for Work and Fit for Work decisions. This will ensure claimants receive the correct benefit entitlement and labour market support as quickly as possible, and reduce the time those who may be entitled to a higher award have to wait for their assessment.'

NB - DWP statistics published in January 2021 confirmed that only Limited Capability for Work-related Activity decisions were made following telephone and paper-based assessments during the first three months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to a request for further clarification about the 'expanded' assessments, in an email to rightsnet dated 15 February 2021 the DWP has advised that - 

'We ... introduced telephone assessments at scale for WCAs from June 2020 which follow the same structure as face to face assessments. Initially, these resulted in a limited range of outcomes. We have continued to focus on developing our assessment processes and increasing our capacity and capability to assess people by telephone; increasing the range and volume of outcomes that can be provided for claimants ... This approach enables us to ensure claimants receive their correct benefit entitlement as quickly as possible and reduce the time that claimants who may be entitled to a higher award have to wait for their assessment.'

In respect of claimants who were previously assessed over the phone but did not receive an outcome decision, the Department adds - 

'Our enhanced capability and improved processes for telephone assessments will now enable us to carry out a second telephone assessment for those claimants who have previously had a telephone assessment, which did not result in a recommendation or decision. In addition, we have also introduced a trial of video assessments and once completed this will be evaluated and a decision made on the feasibility of wider roll out.'

Finally, for those who previously did not meet the suitability criteria for a telephone assessment because of the nature of their health condition or disability, the DWP says that it is 'exploring ways' to safely assess such claimants over the phone. However, it adds - 

'Should a claimant be unable to undertake a telephone assessment because of their health condition, they will remain on their current award until we are able to gather the evidence needed for a recommendation to be made, or until their benefit is due to end in the case of contributory employment and support allowance.' 

Update (27 April 2021) - the Work and Pensions Committee has published a letter from DWP Minister Justin Tomlinson dated 24 March 2021 confirming that the DWP is now providing the full range of outcomes, including Fit for Work, across all WCA telephone assessments, and that a second WCA telephone assessment will be offered to claimants who have undertaken one previously which didn’t result in an outcome.