The Department for Work and Pensions has appointed Dr Paul Litchfield to undertake the fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), as required by section 10 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007
This call for evidence will be one of several methods used to gather information during the review. Evidence submitted will be used to inform his independent report, which will be laid before Parliament before the end of 2013.
The review asks:
- the overall effectiveness of the WCA as a discriminator;
- the impact of earlier independent reviews;
- the way that mental health conditions are considered in the WCA; and
- the biopsychosocial factors that influence capability for work.
The deadline for responses is 27 August 2013.
Legislation requires that one further review will be undertaken in 2014.
You can find out more about responding and read the review documents at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fourth-independent-review-of-the-work-capability-assessment-wca
The review also applies to Northern Ireland. For more information go to www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-departments/news-dsd/news-dsd-100713-mccausland-calls-for.htm
Disability Rights UK response
You can view our response to the fourth independent review here.
Government response
You can view the Government's response to the review here.