Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of trialling the provision of a copy assessment report when informing claimants of a decision on a benefit claim under the Health Transformation Programme.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising benefit services to improve customer experience, build trust in our services and create a more efficient service. As we develop these services, we are exploring a range of ideas to establish what works best for our customers with HTP providing the platform for change and the flexible capability to trial new ideas.
Audio recording is available on an opt-in basis for face-to-face and telephone assessments. Customers are informed of the audio recording offer prior to their assessment in invitation letters. The programme is looking at how audio recording can also be offered for video assessments and will be seeking ways to improve the whole process. We will set out the detail of any changes in due course.
We have undertaken initial tests where assessment reports are shared with customers. We are evaluating the outcomes of these tests to establish next steps.
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