Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to require Personal Independence Payment assessment providers to provide staff with training on long covid.

All Health Professionals (HPs) carrying out Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments are clinically qualified practitioners. They are subject to a rigorous recruitment process followed by a comprehensive training programme in disability assessment

Long Covid is a medically recognised condition associated with a range of disabling effects which depend upon the severity of the condition. Both Capita and Independent Assessment Services (IAS) ensure that Long Covid training is provided for HPs undertaking PIP assessments on behalf of the department.