Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review the accuracy of reporting on DLA and PIP assessments; and if she will update best practice guidance for producing these reports.

As Personal Independence Payment has replaced Disability Living Allowance for people aged 16 to 64, the vast majority of Disability Living Allowance claims are decided on the basis of self-reporting of need. Where a medical assessment is required, the Department has published comprehensive guidance for Health Professionals on how to complete the assessment report. This guidance was last updated in July 2017.

As the majority of assessments are now undertaken on Personal Independence Payment, we work closely with the Assessment Providers to further improve the quality of assessments which includes ensuring their assessment reports are to the standard that the Department expects and are completed within an optimum timeframe. We have a programme of continuous improvement which includes Assessment Providers increasing clinical coaching, along with feedback and support available to each assessor. We are undertaking more observations of assessments and have introduced an independent audit of assessment reports to ensure that the advice provided to the Department’s Case Managers is of suitable quality, fully explained and justified. We will commit to progress the recommendations in Paul Gray’s second independent review around quality and consistency of Personal Independence Payment assessments.

The Personal Independent Payment Assessment Guide provides comprehensive guidance for Health Professionals regarding all aspects of the assessment process including completion of assessment reports. This guide is updated regularly and was last updated December 2017.