A major overhaul of benefits assessments has been announced – and our map reveals how things will change where you live. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is altering the method for conducting assessments for claims such as Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and other benefits.
The department has confirmed the start date for when assessments in any specific region will be conducted by the same company on behalf of the DWP. This new service will continue until 2029, at which point a new nationwide assessment service is expected to be launched.
Individuals claiming PIP usually need to undergo a health assessment where they are awarded points to determine the level of payment they will receive, based on how their disability impacts their ability to perform everyday tasks and move around. Those on Universal Credit and ESA must attend a work capability assessment if they claim they are too ill to work.
These are now undergoing major changes after new contracts were awarded, assigning responsibility for all assessments in any given region to the same company. It’s the initial step towards the introduction of a new nationwide Health Assessment Service in five years.
Claimants are encouraged to follow the instructions in their appointment letter. If you have misplaced your letter or are uncertain about who your provider is, you can check by using your postcode to search our interactive map.
The new health assessment provider is Maximus UK in Northern England and Scotland includes the following postcodes: AB, BB, BD, BL, CA, CH2, CH3, CH41, CH42, CH43, CH44, CH45, CH46, CH47, CH48, CH49, CH60, CH61, CH62, CH63, CH64, CH65, CH66, CW, DD, DG, DH, DL, DN, EH, FK, FY, G, HD, HG, HS, HU, HX, IV, KA, KW, KY, L, LA, LS, M, ML, NE, OL, PA, PH, PR, S, SK, SR, TD, TS, WA, WF, WN, YO and ZE.
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