Why are physical examinations necessary for mental health/brain injury benefit assessments?

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Brain Injury or mental health claimant is examined to see how far he can crouch down, or lift a leg, he is asked how far he can walk and how long it takes, if he can touch his head or use a mouse, Can I ask why these questions are included in an assessment where the claimant has no physical disability but mental health problems.....
This from the Health Advisory Service "Where appropriate, you may have a physical examination which is designed to assess your function and is not the same as an examination in a diagnostic or treatment setting with a GP or Consultant.

Your verbal consent will be obtained for any physical examination to proceed, should it be necessary. You are encouraged to do as much of the examination as you feel comfortable with. You will not need to remove items of intimate clothing. A physical examination is not always required."
'A physical examination is not always required' but is ALWAYS carried out....
Can you point me in the right direction to find out why this is?

Yours faithfully,

Trudy Baddams

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FoI mailbox.
 
By the next working day your request will be forwarded to the relevant
information owner within the Department who will respond to you direct. 
 
If your email is a Freedom of Information request you can normally
expect a response within 20 working days.
 
Should you have any further queries in connection with this request do
please contact us.
 
For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.
 
[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...
 

**********************************************************************

This document is strictly confidential and is intended only for use by the
addressee.

If you are not the intended recipient any disclosure, copying,
distribution

or other action taken in reliance of the information contained in this
email is strictly prohibited.
 
Any views expressed by the sender of this message are not necessarily
those of the Department

for Work and Pensions.

If you have received this transmission in error please tell us and then
permanently delete

what you have received.

This email was scanned for viruses by the Department for Work and Pensions
antivirus services and was found to be virus free.

Please note: Incoming and outgoing email messages are routinely monitored
for compliance

with our policy on the use of electronic communications.

**********************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

hide quoted sections

no-reply@dwp.ecase.co.uk on behalf of DWP Health Services Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Trudy Baddams,

I am writing in response to your request for information, received 8th
May.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team