Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Contracted-out Health Assessments

Monday 8 March 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

  • Zarah Sultana asked about the recent assessment of contracted-out health assessments for employment and support allowance and personal independence payment.
  • The Department responded that they remain committed to ensuring high-quality service for claimants, continuing paper-based assessments where possible and trialling telephone and video assessments.
  • The Department stated that 92% of claimants find their experience satisfactory or better, and the quality is independently monitored.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Zarah Sultana Your Party Coventry South
Benefits & Welfare
Context

There are concerns about the accuracy and efficiency of health assessments for employment and support allowance and personal independence payment conducted by private companies.

Question

What recent assessment has her Department made of the accuracy and efficiency of contracted-out health assessments for employment and support allowance and personal independence payment?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

Throughout the pandemic, disability benefits have remained open. We are committed to ensuring high-quality service for claimants and continue to complete paper-based assessments where possible. Telephone and video assessment trials are underway.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a recent assessment or evaluation of accuracy and efficiency

How: Ensuring Benefits Remain Open, Commitment To High-Quality Service

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Q2 Zarah Sultana Your Party Coventry South
Benefits & Welfare
Context

There is dissatisfaction with outsourced disability benefit assessments, citing poor accuracy and excessive wait times for appeals, leading to financial hardship. A high success rate in appeal cases indicates potential flaws in initial assessments.

Question

The outsourcing of assessments for employment and support allowance and personal independence payments to companies such as Capita has been a travesty. Constituents tell me how they have been signed off work by their GP, only for non-specialist assessors to refuse their claims. Appeals take excessive time causing severe hardship. Coventry Law Centre found 90% of appeals successful. Will the Minister scrap these cruel assessments and bring in a framework treating disabled people with dignity and respect?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

We have increased support for those with disabilities by £3 billion. Assessors are trained and experienced, and 92% of claimants find their experience satisfactory or better. The Department closely monitors the quality independently.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to scrapping outsourced assessments or implementing a new framework

How: Increased Support For Disabilities, Assessors' Training And Experience

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