Policy paper

Government response to the Work Capability Assessment independent review – year 3

Government response to Professor Harrington's third independent review of the Work Capability Assessment

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Documents

Government’s response to the independent review of the Work Capability Assessment – Year 3

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Professor Harrington was reappointed to lead the third independent review of the Work Capability Assessment in 2012.

We published his second independent review on 20 November 2012.

Work Capability Assessment independent review – year 3

His third review sets out a series of recommendations to the government based on the evidence he collected as part of the review and which complement the recommendations from his first and second reviews. The main recommendations focus on:

  • actively considering the need for further documentary evidence in every claimant’s case, and justifying it if this is not sought
  • continuing to strive for an appropriate balance between quality decisions and achieving benchmarks
  • working with the Tribunal Service to gather more quality feedback on decisions that have been overturned on appeal

The government responded to Professor Harrington’s review on 20 November 2012.

In the response, the government welcomes Professor Harrington’s findings and recommendations, endorsing each recommendation and describing how the government will work towards achieving all of Professor Harrington’s recommendations.

Updates to this page

Published 20 November 2012

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