To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of assessments for disability living allowance carried out in each of the last five years.
Answered on
22 April 2022
The data is not available. The Department currently uses two separate functional assessments to help determine entitlement for health and disability benefits. These are the Personal Independence Payment assessment and the Work Capability Assessment. If required, cases may be referred to an assessment provider so that an assessment can be carried out by a health professional.
In the case of Disability Living Allowance, decisions are made on behalf of the Secretary of State by Case Managers (CMs) and only very rarely include an assessment by advice from a health professional. Evidence is provided by the claimant (or in the case of children their parent or guardian) indicating how, in their opinion, the illness or disability affects essential daily activities. Claimants are also encouraged to submit supporting evidence from relatives, carers or Healthcare Professionals. This gives the CM a better picture of the person's care and mobility needs. Therefore, claims can usually be decided without medical assessment advice or without the need for other information to be obtained.