Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to stop claimants on low incomes from being charged by GPs for the supply of supporting medical information for claims for benefit.

We advise claimants not to seek additional evidence which they may be charged for, such as from GPs. Where an assessment provider determines that additional medical evidence from a GP could prove helpful they will request that evidence from the GP directly.

GPs are obliged through their contract with NHS England to provide the assessment provider with medical evidence for Employment and Support Allowance free-of-charge. For Personal Independence Payment GPs are paid a standard fee (currently £33.50) for completing a General Practitioner Factual Report.

In the Government’s response to the recent Work and Pensions Select Committee report on Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance Assessments we set out our commitment to continue improving the customer experience for both. For example, in order to simplify the process for claimants, we are currently exploring how data can be usefully shared between the two assessments, and opportunities for better data sharing between DWP and the NHS. We are also working to ensure better communication with claimants, in addition to working closely with both GPs and the Department of Health.