Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he will take to help ensure that disabled people with physical and psychological ill health, where there is fluctuation or periods of remission, can demonstrate the nature and history of their condition qualifies longer awards of benefit without regular reassessment.

Healthcare professionals carrying out assessments provide advice to DWP decision makers and case managers on when claims should be reviewed. As part of the assessment, healthcare professionals take fluctuations in the claimant’s medical condition into account. For example, in PIP, paragraph 1.9.3 of the Assessment Guide states: “Where a condition can fluctuate significantly over a period of time consideration should be given as to when a review would be appropriate.”