The DWP has announced that it is to carry out more WCA reviews ‘to ensure claimants who can work are supported to do so’.
The information was included in the 22 September edition of the DWP’s Touchbase newsletter, which is aimed at professionals who work with claimants.
In a piece entitled ‘Work Capability Assessments – update’ the newsletter stated:
“Although we continue to prioritise new claims for a Work Capability Assessment, we plan to conduct more Department-led reassessments as we recover capacity post-Covid.
“Reassessments help ensure claimants receive appropriate financial support and account for the fact that health conditions and disabilities can change and affect people differently over time. We want to ensure claimants who can work are supported to do so, and reassessments help us do that. If customers who use your services enquire, please advise them to complete their medical questionnaire if applicable and to attend their reassessment. If they don’t, their benefits may be affected.”
No further details were given about how many WCA reviews are currently being carried out or by what percentage the numbers will increase. Nor do we know whether reviews will primarily be for employment and support allowance claimants, universal credit claimants or both.
Benefits and Work has made a Freedom of Information request to try to get more details. We’ll pass on anything we learn.
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