Claimants who had a face-to-face personal independence payment (PIP) assessment last year were almost a quarter less likely to get an award than claimants who had a telephone or video assessment, figures released by the DWP have revealed.
The statistics were given in a written parliamentary answer by DWP disability minister Stephen Timms.
They show that over the last three years the gap between face-to-face assessments and telephone/video assessment success rates has been growing, rising from 11% in 2022 to 13% in 2024. The full figures are:
- 2022 Face-to-face: 42% Telephone, video: 53%
- 2023 Face-to-face: 44% Telephone, video: 56%
- 2024 Face-to-face: 44% Telephone, video: 57%
The difference in success rates does not appear to be explained by, for example, by the DWP inviting people who have less severe conditions face-to-face assessments, because allocation to assessment types appears to be largely random.
According to Timms, where claimants need a specific type of assessment, such as a telephone assessment because of difficulties with travelling, then they will be allocated that.
But all other claimants will get the next available appointment, regardless of whether that is face-to-face, telephone or video.
Part of the difference in success rates may be the opportunity to for assessors to undermine claims with baseless “informal observations” at a face-to-face assessment, such as:
“Is tanned. Suggests good health.
Overweight. Suggests good appetite.
Smartly dressed. Suggests good drive.”
In November 2024, the latest statistics we have for assessment types:
77% of assessments were remote, either telephone or video, but overwhelmingly these were telephone
18% were paper
4% were face-to-face
1% were unspecified
So the chances of having a face to face assessment have been small since the pandemic.
However, Timms has also revealed that the proportion of face-to-face assessments is set to rise from Autumn of this year, so the risk will increase in the coming months.
As a method of reducing the number of successful claims and cutting the cost of PIP, switching to more face-to-face assessments appears to be an effective strategy. It also requires no legislation whatsoever.
But claimants can ask to have their assessment type changed, for example because travelling to an assessment centre for a face-to-face assessment would be painful or distressing.
The right to a review of the type of assessment you are allocated and the right to a further review are explained at pages 105-107 of our member’s Guide to PIP Claims and Reviews, along with sample written requests for a change of assessment type.
We have also updated the section of the guide headed “What kind of assessment will you have?” at page 103, to inform readers about the different success rates for different types of assessment.
Members can download the current Guide to PIP Claims and Reviews here.
You can read the full parliamentary question and answer here.
