Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that all medical assessors for (a) disability living allowance and (b) personal independence payment are medical professionals.

For Disability Living Allowance, information about care and/or mobility needs is submitted on a claim form, supported by medical reports where necessary, which allows the department’s case managers to determine entitlement and make award decisions.

Health Professionals that carry out Personal Independence Payment assessments on behalf of the department must have the following qualifications and experience:

• are an occupational therapist, nurse (level 1), physiotherapist, doctor or paramedic
• fully registered with the relevant licensing body (doctors must have a licence to practise)
• the licensing body has not placed restrictions on the health professional's registration. In individual cases, this requirement may be wavered subject to prior written agreement with the department.
• at least 2 years post full registration experience or less than 2 years post full registration experience by specific agreement with the department,
• have passed a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Health Professionals are subject to a rigorous recruitment process followed by a comprehensive training programme in disability assessment for both physical and mental health conditions and have to be approved by the department. Health Professionals are then required to complete a programme of continuing professional development.