In March, the UK Government announced that claimants on disability benefits would no longer be required to attend face-to-face assessments due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The change was introduced on March 17 for an initial three-month period and covers health checks for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit.
The suspension of face-to-face assessments also includes new claims to those benefits and recipients of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
The temporary measure means that the majority of new claims are being assessed over the telephone or just on the evidence submitted.
However, the suspension period is due to end this week - on Friday, June 19 - and there’s no word yet on any extension.
An extension seems the most likely outcome as the UK is still implementing new health and safety measures in work places, despite different levels of lockdown easing in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.
The official comment from the UK Government says they are still reviewing the situation.
Benefits and Work reports that Justin Tomlinson, minister of state for disabled people, told MPs last week: “As previously announced, all face-to-face assessments for health and disability benefits were suspended from 17 March 2020 for an initial period of three months.
“We are currently in the process of reviewing this measure in light of the latest public health advice and will confirm next steps as soon as possible.”
If you are making a claim for PIP, ESA, or Universal Credit, don’t be put off by the prospect of a face-to-face assessment because the odds are that we’re not going to see them back in place for some time to come.
For more information on claiming benefits, visit Gov.uk here
