In March, the DWP announced the suspension of PIP and ESA face-to-face assessments for three months.
Today, the Department announced that this temporary suspension, initially brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, “will remain in place following a consideration of the latest public health guidance”.
However, some DLA and PIP review and reassessment activity will gradually resume from July 2020.
The DWP said that:
“All services remain open and people are encouraged to make a claim if they believe they need support, or to update the department on a change of their circumstances.
As measures are taken across the country to ease restrictions, the department will also gradually resume some review and reassessment activity which had been put on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak.
We will shortly be restarting review and renewal activity in PIP and DLA, starting with those claims which were already underway when this activity was suspended.”
The DWP also outlined what this means for claimants:
- anyone who makes a new claim or is due an assessment will be contacted, if necessary, to discuss next steps, which could involve either telephone or paper-based assessments.
- it will shortly be writing out to some PIP and DLA claimants asking them to complete paperwork to resume their reviews, reassessments and renewals.
- for PIP cases where paperwork has already been returned, claimants may be contacted by one of its assessment providers.
For more information see Face-to-face assessment suspension continues for health and disability benefits.