Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria must be met to deem a medical assessment unfit for purpose during a personal independence payment dispute process; and whether it is his Department's policy that a medical assessment can be used to form a judgement if the (a) claimant has requested a mandatory reconsideration and (b) medical assessment is being disputed by the claimant on the grounds of additional medical evidence.

When considering a Mandatory Reconsideration application, a decision maker may consider the assessment report to be unsatisfactory where they consider the overall conclusion is not fair and impartial and is likely to have compromised the quality of the initial decision. For example, it is not comprehensive, it doesn’t clearly explain the medical issues raised by the claimant, it doesn’t fully explain any contradictions in evidence, it is not complete, it is not in accordance with the relevant legislation.

In considering an MR application, a decision maker will take into account both the assessment report and all other evidence held on the case, irrespective of when it has been received or who has provided it.