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Reassessment of incapacity benefits

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Reassessment of incapacity benefits

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    1. Reassessment of incapacity benefits Incapacity benefits – Changes you need to know about March 2011

    2. What are the changes and when are they taking place? Since October 2010 and through to Spring 2014 customers who receive: Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance Income Support If these are paid on the grounds of illness or disability you will be assessed for Employment and Support Allowance.

    3. How will this affect customers? Between October 2010 and 2014 the majority will have to take part in a Work Capability Assessment to determine their future benefit. Atos Healthcare is the name of the company that will provide the medical services assessment This will concentrate on what people can do rather than only focusing on what they can’t. Nothing will change on the customers current benefit until a decision is made on their case.

    4. When a decision has been made – Employment and Support Allowance Where a customer is assessed as eligible for Employment and Support Allowance their claim will be transferred by DWP. Benefit payments for people who transfer to Employment and Support will not be disrupted. No one moving from their existing benefit to Employment and Support Allowance will see a reduction in the level of their benefit entitlement at the time that it happens.

    5. When a decision has been made – Employment and Support Allowance There are two groups in Employment and Support Allowance, with different allowances and different terms and conditions. Work Related Activity Group Support Group

    6. Employment and Support Allowance – Work Related Activity Group Work-Related Activity Group Those people who we assess as being able to work at some point will be placed in the Employment and Support Allowance Work-Related Activity group. If a customer is placed in this group, they will be expected to take part in work focused interviews with their personal adviser. If a customer is placed in this group they will get support to help them prepare for suitable work. In return, they will receive a Work Related Activity component (payment) in addition to their basic rate of benefit.  If a customer refuses to go to the Work Focused Interviews, or to take part fully in the Work Focused Interviews, it may affect their entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (money).

    7. Employment and Support Allowance – Support Group Support Group If a customer is placed in the Support Group this will be because their illness or disability has a severe effect on their ability to work They will not be expected to take part in any work related activity to receive their benefit. But they can do so on a voluntary basis if they want to. The customer will receive a support component (money) in addition to their basic rate of benefit. If a customer is placed in the Support Group they do not have to go to interviews, but they can ask to talk to a personal adviser if they want to.

    8. When a decision has been made – Jobseeker’s Allowance If a customer is found capable of work they may be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance. You will be asked if you wish to claim this if you are told that your claim for Employment and Support Allowance has been disallowed. There are two types of Jobseeker's Allowance: Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance Generally, if you have been claiming Incapacity benefit you will claim this. Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Generally, if you have been claiming Income Support you will claim this.

    9. When a decision has been made – if you have an additional entitlement to Income Support Some customers who are found capable of work will be entitled to Income Support on other grounds. For example if they have young children. Where this is the case, and we are aware of the entitlement, the customer will be given the option of continuing to claim Income Support. Although the amount of benefit may change depending on what else they are getting. The customer will not need to make a new claim. If we are not aware of a persons entitlement the person may be able to make a new claim for Income Support.

    10. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit calculations may be affected by reassessment. Everyone will need to speak to their adviser about their housing and council tax benefit as any benefit changes could effect this.

    11. Customer journey: WCA = Work Capability Assessment, WRAG – Work Related Activity Group, WFI = Work Focused Interview, WFHRA = Work Focused Health Related Assessment, ESA = Employment and Support Allowance, JSA = Job Seekers Allowance.

    12. Customer journey Step 1 - People may have learned of the changes to their benefit from one of many sources - Radio, newspapers, internet. Step 2 - Customer will receive a letter informing them that changes are about to commence and advising them on next steps. (IMPORTANT) Asking for your phone number Giving you our phone number Giving you a reference number to use Letting you know that the changes are happening to you now. Step 3 – Customer will receive a call to provide further information and to find out if they need extra help. This will only happen if we have a number to call you on. You can call us between 9am and 5pm using the number on the letter. Let us know what help you need (IMPORTANT)

    13. Customer journey, step by step Step 4 - Customer will receive a medical questionnaire to fill out. (IMPORTANT) ? ? ? ? ? ? ALSO SEND IN OTHER EVIDENCE Step 5 - Customer will receive a call from Atos Healthcare to arrange a Work Capability Assessment. Step 6 - Customer attends the Work Capability Assessment with Atos Healthcare. (IMPORTANT) Come with someone if you can. ARRIVE EARLY (IMPORTANT)

    14. Customer journey , step by step Step 6 – What to bring with you to your assessment: (IMPORTANT) Your appointment letter Proof of identity. This can be your passport or 3 other different types of identification, this can be: Birth certificate, driving licence , utility (gas, electric, water) bill Any hospital appointment or admission letters. Tablets or other medicine that you are using at the moment (this includes inhalers) Any Medical Aids, like walking aids, hearing aids, glasses or contact lenses. The appointment will take from 20 minutes to 60 minutes. IMPORTANT - YOU CAN CLAIM TRAVEL EXPENSES – Bring ANY TRAVEL TICKETS and RECEIPTS to the Assessment

    15. Customer journey – if a customer is entitled to Employment and Support Allowance Step 7 - Customer will receive a call to gather any missing information and to explain the next steps (this will only apply to customers for whom there is missing information). Step 8 – Customer will receive a call to advise on Employment and Support Allowance entitlement and next steps. Step 9 – Customer will receive an Employment and Support Allowance award notification. (LOOK AFTER THIS) Step 10 – Following careful consideration, it has been decided that the Work Focused Health Related Assessment (WFHRA) element of the Work Capability Assessment will not happen for a period of 2 years. Step 11 – Customer will be contacted to arrange a Work Focused Interview (WFI). - This only applies to people on the Work Related Activity Group Step 12 – Customer attends the Work Focused Interview. (IMPORTANT) This only applies to people on the Work Related Activity Group

    16. Customer journey – if a customer is not entitled to receive Employment and Support Allowance Step 13 – At the Jobcentre Plus a decision maker reviews the outcome of the customer’s Work Capability Assessment including – Face to face assessment, Atos Healthcare’s medical report, The limited capability for work medical questionnaire (Step 4 Form) Other available information. – IMPORTANT if you have any - send it in The Jobcentre Plus decision maker will reach a decision as to whether or not the customer will be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance on the information available. The Jobcentre Plus decision maker will then advise the customer of their options. If they wish to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance they will be Transferred to someone who will take their claim details. (YOU CAN APPEAL HERE)

    17. Customer journey – if a customer is not entitled to receive Employment and Support Allowance Step 14 – Customer will receive a letter telling them of benefit disallowance (not entitled to) and the Work Capability Assessment outcome. Step 17 – Customer will receive a letter with their Jobseeker’s Allowance award notification.

    18. Customer journey – appealing a decision Step 15 – If you want to appeal the decision you will only have one calendar month from the date of the letter to do so and it must be in writing. You will continue to receive the assessment rate for Employment and Support Allowance, while you wait for the outcome of the decision. (IMPORTANT – TO APPEAL IT MUST BE IN WRITING AND MUST BE DONE WITHIN ONE CALENDAR FROM THE DATE OF THE LETTER)

    19. Customer journey – appealing a decision Step 16 – When the Jobcentre Plus decision maker receives the appeal, they will look at the original decision again to see if it is right. This will mean a phone call to the customer to make sure they have provided all the information needed. It is important that the Jobcentre Plus decision maker has all of the available information. The Jobcentre Plus decision maker will then look at the decision again and notify the customer and continue with the appeals process where it is appropriate to do so.

    20. In the Kent and Medway Area Locations of Atos healthcare centres used. Chatham - 1A Batchelor Street, Chatham, ME4 4BJ. Canterbury - Nutwood House, Chaucer Road, Canterbury, CT1 1ZZ. Croydon - Stephenson House, 2 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA. Hastings - 7-8 Queens Road, Hastings, TN34 1QP.

    21. Further information and useful contacts Stuart.rayner@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk We have also developed information that our customers and stakeholders can access direct. This includes a page on Directgov (www.direct.gov.uk/ibchanges or www.direct.gov.uk/newidiadauba for Welsh speaking customers) and information on the DWP Adviser webpage at: www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/ib-reassessing-claims

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