The Department is testing improvements to the how it decides disability benefits using functional health assessments by developing the new health assessment service and the PIP application service within health transformation areas located in London and Birmingham. It told us that part of the testing would look at how it can “make it clearer up front what it is that customers need to be telling [it], what [it is] looking for and what evidence is relevant to help [the Department] to get the de...

The Department is testing improvements to the how it decides disability benefits using functional health assessments by developing the new health assessment service and the PIP application service within health transformation areas located in London and Birmingham. It told us that part of the testing would look at how it can “make it clearer up front what it is that customers need to be telling [it], what [it is] looking for and what evidence is relevant to help [the Department] to get the decision right first time”.51 We heard that the Department intends to scale the testing into the contracts it will sign with interim providers, to include Type: conclusion | Number: 26 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented One of HTP's aims is to increase trust in disability benefits services. This cannot be achieved without working closely with claimants and their representatives and the department val