Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the length of time assessors of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payments have at initial assessment compared with the length of time afforded to tribunal panels.

Healthcare Professionals are encouraged to take as much time as they need during an assessment to fully understand the impact of a claimant’s condition on their everyday life. In order to provide an assessment report that is medically justified and accurate, a Health Professional must undertake extensive questioning to establish how the claimant is impacted by their condition. Depending on the health condition or impairment, assessments may also include a physical examination, sight, hearing and any other tests deemed relevant. This is a comprehensive functional assessment which is tailored to the individual needs of the claimant and as such, there are no time limits set on the duration.