The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is considering how assessments for health benefits can be improved and the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee is urging people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit to share their experiences of the process.
In the online survey, which closes on May 19, the 'How could DWP improve health assessments for PIP and ESA?’, has a list of mixed open and closed questions, offering health benefit claimants the chance to give honest answers using their own words, which they may use when putting questions directly to DWP ministers.
The Committee explained: “This survey is for people who have had an assessment to claim PIP, and/or people who have had a Work Capability Assessment to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or as part of a Universal Credit claim. You don’t have to be claiming either benefit at the moment, and you can still fill in the survey if your claim wasn’t successful.”
It continues: “We will use your responses in our Health assessments for benefits inquiry. We might publish some or all of your responses on our website or social media, or read them out when we're asking questions in a public Committee meeting or in the House of Commons. We won't ask for your name or publish any details that could identify you.”
One of the questions states: “DWP is thinking about whether it should introduce a ‘single digital platform’ for PIP and ESA. This might, for example, allow people to make and receive updates on their claims (such as decisions) online, without filling in paper forms, or allow for information on claims (such as medical evidence) to be shared between applications for different benefits.”
It then asks: “Do you think DWP's proposed ‘single digital platform’ is a good idea? Why/why not? (250 words max).”
The Committee also states that if you have had an assessment for another health related benefit that isn't PIP or ESA, such as Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or you are responding on behalf of an organisation, you can send evidence to the parliamentary inquiry here.
This survey will be open until 11.59pm on Thursday, May 19 2022 and takes around 35 minutes to complete.
You can complete the survey here.
To keep up to date with the outcome of this survey join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group here, follow Record Money on Twitter here, or subscribe to our twice weekly newsletter here.
