New PIP audio recording update for people due an assessment in-person or over the phone

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published new guidance explaining how health professionals can audio record Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments conducted in-person or over the phone.

DWP said it hopes this will “remove or reduce the need for claimants to record consultations”. An audio recording of a face-to-face assessment or telephone consultation can be requested by the claimant before the meeting takes place.

DWP guidance on GOV.UK states: “Upon prior request, providers have the facility to audio record telephone and face to face consultations.” It adds that for a face-to-face assessment, the claimant must sign a consent form in which they agree to not use the audio recording for “unlawful purposes” and that at a telephone assessment, consent should be captured verbally on the recording.

It also states: “In some circumstances, claimants may wish to use their own equipment to audio record their consultation. The consent process above should be followed.”The guidance also says that health professionals must “publicise these conditions and include them in communications sent to claimants before they attend a consultation”.DWP states that video recording of consultations is not permitted to ensure “the safety and privacy of staff and other claimants”.The guidance warns that if it is only the claimant’s personal data that is being recorded then there are “no restrictions on the use the claimant can make of the recording”.