To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with colleagues on improving the personal independence payment assessment process for people with fluctuating health conditions.
Answered on
29 March 2023
I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues, including PIP; and the department closely monitors all aspects of the assessment process, including how we assess fluctuating health conditions.
PIP assessments must consider an individual’s ability to carry out a task over a 12-month period, ensuring that fluctuations are taken into account. The assessment should accurately reflect the impact of variations in an individual's level of impairment, for all health conditions and impairments, as well as those which more typically fluctuate.
We published Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper on 15th March 2023. The White Paper responds to feedback from The Health and Disability Green Paper consultation and sets out proposals to support more disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work, as well as to improve the overall experience of, and trust in, the benefits system.
In the White Paper, the department set out plans to test, at small scale, the introduction of a new Health Impact Record. This will give people the option of a structured way to present evidence that demonstrates the changing impact of their health condition(s). Information will be collected over a period of time rather than at the point of assessment.