Jobcentre Plus - No Attendance Requirement for Three Months

CLAIMANT INFORMATION - Just to be clear.

Claimants are asked to apply online as jobcentres limit access.

Information for claimants

What this means for you:

• there will be no new reviews or reassessments across all benefits for three months – this includes Universal Credit (UC), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
• face-to-face assessments for all sickness and disability benefits have been suspended for the next 3 months including for any new claims.
• PIP claimants, if an assessment has already taken place this will continue to be processed. If an assessment has been scheduled, claimants will be contacted by the assessment provider to discuss how this will be taken forward.
• ESA and UC claimants whose cases have been referred to the provider will be contacted to take this forward.

Additional information

About the suspension of reviews and assessments:

• the suspension will be kept under regular review and extended if necessary.
• if people experience a change in their needs they are still encouraged to contact the Department to ensure they are receiving the correct level of support.
• where awards are due to expire, we will be extending end-dates so that claimants continue to receive financial support at their current rate during this period.

On Thursday (19 March) it was also announced people receiving benefits do not have to attend jobcentre appointments for at least 3 months. People will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the jobcentre appointments in person are suspended.

People are being urged to use online services before turning to the telephone for help with their benefit claim, with access to jobcentres limited for the most vulnerable.

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