Wednesday 08 Jul 2020 @ 08:10
Department for Work and Pensions
Printable version

Face-to-face assessment suspension continues for health and disability benefits

Face-to-face assessment suspension continues for health and disability benefits.

  • Face-to-face assessments to remain suspended, but kept under review
  • Some review and reassessment activity to gradually resume from July 2020 for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • People are encouraged not to delay making claims as all benefits remain open and telephone and paper based assessments are in place where appropriate

This temporary suspension, initially brought in for three months to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, will remain in place following a consideration of the latest public health guidance. We will announce any changes to this in due course.

All services remain open and people are encouraged to make a claim if they believe they need support, or to update the department on a change of their circumstances.

As measures are taken across the country to ease restrictions, the department will also gradually resume some review and reassessment activity which had been put on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak. We will shortly be restarting review and renewal activity in PIP and DLA, starting with those claims which were already underway when this activity was suspended.

What this means for claimants:

  • Anyone who makes a new claim or is due an assessment will be contacted, if necessary, to discuss next steps, which could involve either telephone or paper-based assessments.
  • We will shortly be writing out to some PIP and DLA claimants asking them to complete paperwork to resume their reviews, reassessments and renewals. For PIP cases where paperwork has already been returned, claimants may be contacted by one of our Assessment Providers.

Contact Press Office

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 3267 5144

Press Office

Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA

London Press Office (national media and London area enquiries only – not questions about personal claims) 020 3267 5144

Out-of-hours (journalists only) 07623 928 975

England and Wales (local media enquiries) 029 20 586 then 097 or 098 or 099

Scotland (local media enquiries) 0131 310 1122

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Channel website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

Original article link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-to-face-assessment-suspension-continues-for-health-and-disability-benefits

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