People may know already that disability benefit reassessments and reviews are on now hold because of coronavirus precautions. So if your disability benefit was due to end or be reviewed, it will continue to be paid for the next three months or longer.
As far as we understand from official information, people making completely new claims will be assessed by paper evidence if it has already been sent in, and may be contacted by phone about their claim and asked questions over the phone by the assessor.
You can message us on the blog about your experiences.
Here is the DWP announcement:
Reviews and reassessments for disability benefits are being suspended for the next three months.
“This temporary measure, effective from tomorrow (Tuesday 24 March), is being taken to reassure vulnerable people about the continuity of their benefits during the coronavirus outbreak and to ensure the Department’s resources are focused on enabling access to financial support for new claimants. This follows on from a previous announcement to suspend all face-to-face assessments in order to safeguard potentially vulnerable claimants.
Work and Pensions Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey said:
As this country ramps up its efforts to support people through coronavirus, we will do whatever it takes to protect claimants and our staff.
We are automatically extending all awards and reassessments for health and disability benefits to provide that reassurance to those in receipt of them.
Information for claimants
what this means for you:
- there will be no new reviews or reassessments across all benefits for three months – this includes Universal Credit (UC), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
- face-to-face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits have been suspended for the next 3 months including for any new claims.
- PIP claimants, if an assessment has already taken place this will continue to be processed. If an assessment has been scheduled, claimants will be contacted by the assessment provider to discuss how this will be taken forward.
- ESA and UC claimants whose cases have been referred to the provider will be contacted to take this forward.
Additional information
about the suspension of reviews and assessments:
- the suspension will be kept under regular review and extended if necessary.
- if people experience a change in their needs they are still encouraged to contact the Department to ensure they are receiving the correct level of support.
- where awards are due to expire, we will be extending end-dates so that claimants continue to receive financial support at their current rate during this period.
On Thursday (19 March) it was also announced people receiving benefits do not have to attend jobcentre appointments for at least 3 months. People will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the jobcentre appointments in person are suspended.
People are being urged to use online services before turning to the telephone for help with their benefit claim, with access to jobcentres limited for the most vulnerable.”
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