Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Work Capability Assessment Referrals

Monday 25 January 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is conducting paper-based assessments where possible.
  • Telephone and video assessments are being introduced and trialled.
  • Claimants requiring face-to-face assessments have experienced delays in support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kate Osamor Labour (Co-op) Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from the need to understand delays in processing work capability assessments due to the temporary suspension of face-to-face assessments.

Question

What recent estimate has been made of the average time her Department takes to process a work capability assessment referral?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

Although face-to-face work capability assessments remain temporarily suspended, we are conducting paper-based assessments where possible. We have also introduced telephone assessments and are trialling video assessments. We closely monitor processing times, and are prioritising new claims and changes of circumstances.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked for an estimate of the average time taken to process a work capability assessment referral; no specific timeframe or data on current processing times was provided.

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Q2 Kate Osamor Labour (Co-op) Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Child Poverty Action Group has highlighted the plight of universal credit claimants whose work capability assessments have been delayed indefinitely, leading to months without extra support.

Question

In its latest briefing, the Child Poverty Action Group has highlighted the plight of universal credit claimants whose work capability assessments have been delayed indefinitely because they require a face-to-face assessment. These claimants have gone months without hundreds of pounds of extra support, which they need. What assurances can the Minister provide these claimants about when they will be able to access this element of universal credit?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

We are doing absolutely everything we can to ensure that claimants are accessing the support as quickly as possible, which is why we introduced at pace telephone assessments and now video assessments. Wherever possible, we are also conducting paper-based assessments. We continue to do all we can, and we will return to include face-to-face assessments as soon as it is safe to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline for when claimants requiring face-to-face assessments will be able to receive their extra support was not provided.

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