Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what disability-specific training is provided to personal independence payment assessors to enable them to assess blind and partially sighted applicants.

The PIP assessment is not a medical assessment requiring the assessor to diagnose a condition and recommend treatment options. The focus is on ensuring that the Health Care Professionals are experts in disability analysis, focusing on the effects of health conditions and impairments on the individual’s daily life.

All Health Care Professionals receive training on a wide range of conditions including sight loss and visual impairment. This includes detailed modules covering all aspects of sight loss and how the condition impacts on a person’s ability to undertake the activities in the PIP assessment. Both Assessment Providers employ Sensory Impairment Champions; these are experienced clinicians who are available to provide support and advice to Health Professionals at any point during the assessment process.