{"id":121205,"date":"2026-06-03T10:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T09:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=121205"},"modified":"2026-06-03T10:01:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T09:01:27","slug":"dwp-confirms-major-assessment-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/dwp-confirms-major-assessment-move\/","title":{"rendered":"DWP Confirms Major Assessment Move That Could Reshape Benefit Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ministers say the proposed changes cannot move forward until an independent review<\/strong> of Personal Independence Payment has reported later this year, leaving the current assessment process unchanged for Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance claimants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP<\/strong>) had previously outlined plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA<\/strong>), which is used to determine whether a claimant is able to work and what support they may receive. The proposal formed part of the government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper and aimed to replace separate assessments with a single process linked to Personal Independence Payment (PIP<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a written parliamentary response from Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms<\/strong>, the timetable for abolishing the WCA is now tied directly to the outcome of the ongoing Timms Review of PIP, which is expected to report its findings this autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government Links WCA Abolition to Outcome of PIP Review<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The latest update <\/a>came after Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper asked what assessment had been made of ending multiple benefit assessments for amputees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his response on May 22, Sir Stephen acknowledged that many disabled people and individuals with health conditions currently undergo two separate assessments when claiming both Universal Credit and PIP. He said the process can be \u201ccomplex, time-consuming, duplicative and cause stress for claimants<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the DWP minister, the government’s long-term objective remains the removal of the Work Capability Assessment. Under the proposed model, additional financial support for health conditions within Universal Credit<\/strong> would be determined through the PIP assessment in England and Wales rather than through a separate work capability test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sir Stephen stated that the reform is intended to end what the government describes as the \u201cbinary categorisation\u201d of claimants <\/a>as either able or unable to work. Instead, eligibility for additional support would be based on how a disability affects daily living rather than a person’s capacity to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he made clear that these plans cannot proceed until the Timms Review has concluded and decisions have been taken on the future structure of the PIP system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 12-week consultation period on the Goverment's health and disability welfare reforms has started

Have your say before the 30 Jun 2025 deadline

The Pathways to Work Green Paper, including its accessible versions, is available to view online https:\/\/t.co\/63QthI3DcL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/quIoG1WVlR<\/a><\/p>— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) April 8, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>