Work Capability Assessment: Chronic Illnesses
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to help ensure that an existing claimant with a new or worsening health condition can request a review of their capability for work and have it reassessed with the same priority given to a new claimant.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
We prioritise initial assessments for new benefit customers to ensure that people receive the correct entitlement and employment related support as early as possible. Reassessments are carried out when there is capacity in the system to do them. We have no immediate plans to change this approach. We are, however, taking steps to extend the period between PIP assessments, to increase the amount of assessment resource available for WCA reassessments.
When an individual is reassessed, if the outcome of the assessment means they are entitled to a higher rate of benefit, that rate will be backdated accordingly.
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