One to one benefit assessments

[Amazonjaunt]

It would save money in the long run if all benefits claims had to be assessed one to one, surely?

Isn’t that what they currently do? No?

Can you elaborate?

It would save money if we weren’t paying profit making companies to run the assessments

unrealistic - would cost way too much.

Benefits appointments and assessments are 1:1.

Apparently not.
For instance, Labour has pledged to increase the share of PIP assessments carried out face-to-face to 30 per cent, but they haven’t done so yet. In my view it should be 100 per cent.

I don’t understand why.

What benefits are you referring to? You want every parent to turn up with a child in tow to prove they’re entitled to child benefit?

But what good are face to face assessments? They show how you for an hour or so and not how you are most of the time

They already are. They don't assess people in batches.

Or do you mean face to face? How would it save money?

Face to face ? With an immunocompromised person? With a person who is blind or otherwise requires someone who will take them there and back ? 100% seems a daft target

it would save money if the assessment was more accurate and less likely to go to appeal and less likely to lose on appeal

Large numbers of benefits assessments are not carried out face to face.
The government has pledged to increase the number of face to face assessments for PIP to 30 per cent but they haven’t done so yet, for instance.
Claimants who fill in their own applications are twice as likely to be granted support as those seen in person, apparently.

So, you’re terminally ill and going to be dead within months, as evidenced by doctor’s letters, you have to go somewhere to be interviewed?

there’s absolutely no need for all claims to be assessed face-to-face. These ‘assessors’ are often not very experienced and they should take the medical evidence provided by experts instead.

My mother, who has since passed away, was registered blind, deaf and unable to stand due to multiple sclerosis and had heart failure, but rather than accept all the documentation provided by her hospital consultants she was made to attend a face-to-face assessment in order to claim PIP. Do you really think that’s a sensible use of anyone’s time?

And so there should be no face to face assessments. We should go back to just paper assessments. I've never known so many people having to appeal their award compared to when it was DLA and just done on paper

Some don't need to be face to face, especially re-assessments of people that are never going to get better.

Your last statement makes no sense.

As opposed to what? They all are, with either a f2f meeting, video call or phone call. Sometimes once someone is claiming and their illnesses remain the same, they don't need to interview. But al claims are assessed one to one at least once.

That would actually cost more money, some people have that much medical evidence that all is needed is a paper assessment which costs a lot less.
Not mention it would cause severe backlogs and then they would need to employ more people… more money.

You realise some people cannot leave the house or cannot leave easily? My dad was on high flow oxygen 24/7 face to face appointments take place out of the area its very difficult to carry that amount of oxygen around when he went to hospital they always hooked him up to their supply so he didn't have to carry loads around and of course if there was a crash carrying a few hours of high flow oxygen presents a massive risk

Why dont the government take the drs word for it when they say this person is seriously unwell? Why do they need to look at a paraplegic when the drs say they are paraplegic? There are ridiculous and uncalled for "rules" the ability to be assessed on paper isn't one of them

I mean benefits claims should be assessed face to face.
Claimants who are not seen in person are twice as likely to be granted support as those seen in person.
If everyone was seen in person the government would therefore save a lot of money, surely?

OP - is it fair to assume that you've been lucky enough to not need one of those face to face assessments? I have and am apparently cured of something for which there's no cure for

Ideally, yes, PIP assessments should be done face to face, however that wasn't possible in Covid times, hence phone appointments . Of course we have to "pretend" that assessments done during Covid were fit for purpose, if we do otherwise it opens up a whole new can of worms. Assessment providers are struggling as it is, making all assessments face to face would increase the pressure and cost a lot more. Not saying it's right though........Anyway this might be a completely pointless discussion, let's see what comes out of the Timms report findings🙄

Do you have figures to back this up?

No, it would cost the goverment more money. Pip fraud is very small.
Maybe they should require self employed to do a lie detector test when doing their tax returns, that would save more money!

It wouldn't save money. Have you seen how many people have to go to a tribunal? I know people who are blind who've gone to tribunal