DWP to axe ‘work capability’ assessment for Universal Credit in PIP crackdown

The government intends to scrap Universal Credit fitness for work assessments when issuing PIP and replace it with one, new Universal Credit health element. In a new green paper, the Department for Work and Pensions explains the move.

The DWP says this is “to help more disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work”. It adds: “We think an assessment based on condition would require a greater emphasis on the provision of medical evidence of a diagnosis and we would need to consider the requirement this would place on the NHS and health professionals.”

In March 2023, the Government published Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper, which set out our vision to help more disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work.

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The White Paper announced the Government’s intention to remove the existing Work Capability Assessment so that in the future there is only one health and disability functional assessment, the PIP assessment. This will remove the existing Universal Credit (UC) limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) element and replace it with a new UC health element.

This consultation will consider the implications of PIP reform on the gateway to the UC health element. MP Mel Stride explained: "My priority as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is to make sure our welfare system is fair and compassionate. Fair on the taxpayer by ensuring people of working age who can work, do work, and fair on those who are in most need of the state’s help. Welfare at its best is about more than just benefit payments; it is about changing lives for the better.

"That’s why this government has introduced a series of reforms that have brought greater fairness to the welfare system whilst supporting the most vulnerable. We have overhauled an outdated and complex legacy benefit system and introduced Universal Credit, a new modern benefit that ensures people are better off in work than on benefits."