The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed plans to increase the number of face-to-face assessments for individuals making a new claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), as well as those nearing the end of their payment award due for review, according to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper.

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, has also stated that the DWP remains "committed to enabling a multi-channel assessment approach", with a particular emphasis on increasing in-person PIP assessments, while continuing to offer telephone and video consultations

However, he further clarified that "the feasibility of a paper-based assessment will always be considered in the first instance, for all cases", adding that "where a paper-based review is not possible the claimant will be invited to an assessment ".

In his written response to Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan, Sir Stephen noted that before an invitation to an assessment is sent out, "consideration will be given to claimants who need a specific assessment channel due to their health condition or circumstances".

He continued: "Other claimants who can undertake any assessment type will be allocated to the next available appointment; however, this can be changed if the claimant informs us that a reasonable adjustment is appropriate in their circumstances."

"The Department audits Functional Assessment Service suppliers to ensure that the correct PIP assessment channel type has been selected for the claimant. This provides assurance that claimants are routed to the most appropriate assessment type."

In a separate written response to Conservative MP Gregory Stafford, Sir Stephen also clarified that the DWP has "set clear requirements on the professions, skills, experience, and training of health professionals (HPs) that assessment suppliers use to carry out assessments" for PIP.

He explained how the Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide (PIPAG) states all HPs recruited for the delivery of PIP assessments (or any parts of these) must meet certain requirements.

These include:

• Be an occupational therapist, nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic, doctor, pharmacist or by exception, another registered healthcare professional, providing the requirements set out within the PIPAG are met, the individual continues to satisfy quality and probation processes, and only by individual, prior, written agreement with the DWP.
• Be fully registered with the relevant licensing body
• Have no sanctions attached to registration unless: they relate to disability, or the HP is a doctor who has an approved practice setting (APS) (as defined by the General Medical Council from time to time) requirement on the grounds that they have not had their first revalidation post qualification as a doctor
• In individual cases, the requirement for HPs not to have any sanction attached to registration may be waived subject to prior written agreement with DWP (no waiver is required in relation to any sanction relating to disability or an APS requirement)
• Have at least one year's post full registration experience (this refers to either UK registration or equivalent overseas registration for non-UK HPs) or less than one year's post full registration experience by individual, prior, written agreement with the DWP.
• Have passed a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the appropriate level.

Proposed changes to PIP are set to come into effect from November 2026.