Government criteria for ‘switching off’ WCA retest

It seems the government has finally acted on it's claimed desire to stop needless retesting of those with severe / lifelong health conditions.

Changes appear to be implemented with immediate effect :

www.gov.uk/government/publications/emplo...om-29-september-2017

This seems vague and open to interpretation.

There is a news item about this on rightnet that may provide more detailed information. Could you bring us up to speed on what is known about these changes.

I don't think we know anymore than you at the moment.

Thank you.

Interesting that assessors and decision makers have not been given guidance if this is effective now. Presumably all decisions are on hold until all involved have been fully informed and decision making guides updated.

I will be interested to hear what conditions are covered with this and the next steps, having been recently reassessed ESA SG with guidance from the assessor unlikely to work in future and no reassessment date given- (however DWP say 3 years to next assessment). I was told by Maximus that is was up to the DWP even though they had advised no future assessment.

I guess we will need to wait and hear. Wonder whether they will turn off people's assessments or it will mean going through it again. To get to that point I mean.

I found this Parliamentary Briefing Paper online about it, noticed it said

"when finalised, the amended guidance will be incorporated in to the next update to the Work Capability Assessment Handbook published on GOV.UK."

researchbriefings.parliament.uk/Research.../CBP-7820#fullreport