The Department for Work and Pensions will increase the number of face-to-face assessments for Personal Independence Payment claimants in a significant policy shift. The change will affect millions of people currently receiving or applying for PIP.
Most PIP assessments are currently conducted over the phone rather than in person. The new approach represents a major operational change from the existing system.
Assessment system overhaul
The DWP will recruit more health professionals to work in assessment centres to facilitate the increased face-to-face appointments. Liverpool Echo reports that 70,000 PIP assessments were conducted remotely in June alone, highlighting the scale of the current phone-based system.
The changes will apply to both new applicants and existing PIP claimants when they undergo reassessment. This means the policy shift will gradually affect the entire PIP claimant population over time.
Official announcement
Sir Stephen Timms, the DWP Minister, made the official announcement about the assessment changes. The minister outlined the government's commitment to moving away from the predominantly telephone-based system.
The move signals the government's intention to return to more traditional assessment methods after the phone-based approach was expanded during the pandemic period.
Sources used: "Yorkshire", "Bristol Post", "Mirror", "Daily Star", "Liverpool Echo", "Birmingham Mail"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
