Effective from this morning the Department of Employment has suspended all disability reviews and assessments for three months and people are being urged to use online services before turning to the telephone for help with their benefit claim
The Department is also taking unprecedented action to make sure people can get the support they need, including moving 10,000 existing staff to focus on processing new claims.
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.
Last week 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.
