Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his observations on the public petition entitled PIP Assessment Criteria and Process of 21 November 2017, if he will make it his policy to specify minimum qualification and training requirements for all assessors.

As stated in the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ observations, DWP has set clear requirements on the professions, skills, experience and training of the Health Professionals that the Assessment Providers can use to carry out Personal Independence Payment assessments. In addition to their qualified profession, they must have at least two years’ experience following registration, as well as awareness training in specific conditions.

Health Assessment Providers frequently engage with medical experts, charities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen review and update training programmes for all their assessment staff.