DWP makes massive change to PIP assessments with 'faster' decisions by Jobcentre managers
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThousands of disabled Brits are waiting months at a time to have their needs assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), but a major change being brought in by the new administration could see these waiting lists begin to fall.
Instead of a review or assessment by a healthcare professional, managers in the Jobcentre are set to make more decisions on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims.
With a growing caseload of reviews and evaluations, DWP officials have started hiring case managers en-masse to meet the demand.
Responding to a written question, Labour Minister Sir Stephen Timms confirmed the change to PIP in response to a parliamentary question, stating that assessments will be sped up with case managers making "decisions on reviews, avoiding the need for a functional assessment." This change to the way that disabled claimants are assessed for PIP was revealed as the new DWP contracts for regional benefit assessments were either brought in-house, or consolidated to one private provider for each part of England to increase efficiency.
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