Introduction

Further evidence from treating healthcare professionals can help your patients receive the level of support they are entitled to from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If you have any questions about correspondence or calls you have received from the Health Assessment Advisory Service then please contact our enquiry service 8am to 9pm, Monday – Friday or 9am to 7pm on Saturday.

For Personal Independence Payment (PIP) queries, please contact 0800 008 3074.

For Work Capability Assessment (WCA) queries related to applications for Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), please contact 0800 072 0257.

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Has my patient given the Health Assessment Advisory Service permission to contact me?
As part of the application process for disability benefits, customers are asked for permission to contact treating healthcare professionals. This allows you to share information about your patient that is relevant to their claim.

If your patient does not give permission, we will not contact you regarding their case.

What information is useful?
Confirmation of diagnosis and treatment are very useful. Our Functional Assessors will explore the functional impacts of any health conditions or disabilities your patient may have.

Information on how their condition affects their physical, mental or cognitive abilities is extremely helpful, as is any information on the severity of their condition or symptoms.

What are the reports used for?
With additional evidence from healthcare professionals and others involved in a customer’s care, we may be able to provide paper-based advice to the DWP without needing a face-to-face, telephone, or video assessment. This evidence will also help our Functional Assessor provide accurate advice to DWP as part of the assessment process.

Following the assessment, DWP will hold your reports in accordance with their Information Management Policy available here.

Reports may also be used in the mandatory reconsideration and appeals processes.

Why have I got more than one request for information?
The Health Assessment Advisory Service provides assessments for PIP and Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) for customers applying for UC or ESA as well as Specialist Benefits.

We are required to treat each application separately. Further evidence is not shared between the benefit applications and the criteria for each benefit are different. As a result, all requests for further evidence must be completed individually.

Do I get paid for responding to requests for further evidence?
Providing further evidence for UC and ESA claims is part of the NHS GP contract and so does not have an additional fee. Further evidence for PIP claims is not covered by the contract so does attract a fee.

Can I find out more about working as a Functional Assessor?
We have a range of full and part time roles available. Please visit our Careers page to find out more.