Face-to-face Benefit Assessments Return.

Face-to-face benefit assessments are being phased back in during April and May this year.

Those who are unable to fully access online or other forms of assessment will be a priority, and these assessments will still run alongside assessments over the telephone and via paper forms.

Scotland and Wales to resume face-to-face assessments later than England

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) will be the first to resume face-to-face from 12th April 2021 in England. If you are having a face-to-face assessment in Scotland or Wales, these will resume from 26th April 2021.

The socialising indoors roadmap will guide the return of face-to-face assessments.

Face-to-face assessments for Work Capability (WCAs) – assessments which decide additional payment allowances for Universal Credit and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in respect of health - and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments, will resume from May. The timeline of these assessments will be governed by the points at which England, Wales and Scotland will allow socialising indoors.

Not all assessments will be face-to-face

Telephone assessments will continue to take place where suitable for WCAs and PIP claims, and existing paper form assessments will also continue.

Whether an assessment will be face-to-face will be confirmed in the appointment letter sent out to you, which will also confirm the date, time and venue of your assessment.

by Rosalie Priday.