DWP minister issues PIP update on 'comprehensive' assessment criteria

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A month after radical reforms to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit, a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister has provided some further information about how the new work capability assessments will work.

Trying to reassure concerns about how disability will be assessed following the reform, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Mims Davies MP said that all of the work and health professionals conducting PIP assessments will "receive comprehensive training in disability analysis" which also includes "specific training on mental health conditions and how to identify their impact on claimants' ability to carry out the activities in the assessment".

Responding in writing to SNP MP Angela Crawley, who asked what steps the DWP has taken to ensure that the assessments "accurately assess claimants with mental health issues", Davies explained how PIP assessment criteria was "developed over a decade ago in conjunction with independent health, social care, and disability experts", reports the Daily Record. READ MORE: Energy price cap to fall by as much as 7 per cent, according to latest predictions She added: "Our assessment providers have Mental Health Function Champions (MHFC) to support assessors when reviewing evidence and provide advice to DWP Case Managers.

MHFCs are specialist practitioners who have at least two years of post-registration clinical experience in a mental health or learning disability role." Ms Davies also said: "No assessment has been made of the potential mental health impact of PIP assessments, although customer experience is something that is continually monitored.