The government has passed legislation allowing the DWP to require a PIP or ESA claimant to take part in an assessment by telephone or by video as alternatives to a face-to-face assessment.
The new regulations, came into force on 25 March and enshrine all three options in law.
In the case of PIP, the regulations already stipulated that an assessment could be in person or by telephone, but the words ‘or by video’ have now been added.
In the case of ESA and UC, the regulations only stipulated that a claimant may be called to “attend for a medical examination”. The words ‘in person, by telephone or by video’ have been added.
