WCA line of questioning

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

I was disturbed to read people in different parts of the country with depression have been asked by their work capability assessor (one case with Atos and one case with Capita) a specific question in relation to their condition.

"Why have you not tried to commit suicide?"

1) Is this a question which your department suggests the assessor to ask? (as more than one assessor is reported to be asking it)

2) Do you provide any guidance to assessors in terms of asking them to avoid doing or saying anything which may harm the claimant or damage the DWP's case if the decision maker concludes the claimant is fit to work and the claimant appeals that decision? Please kindly supply such guidance if it exists.

3) This question links in with question two. Does the DWP provide legal guidance to work capability assessment companies/assessors in order to minimise the risk of the claimant suing the DWP for inappropriate conduct of its WCA contractors?

Yours faithfully,

Mr Glynne Powell.

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Dear DWP freedom-of-information-requests,

For the record, on 3rd April 2015 I received this message:

"Department for Work and Pensions have delayed.
They have not replied to your FOI request WCA line of questioning promptly, as normally required by law.
Click on the link below to send a message to Department for Work and Pensions reminding them to reply to your request.
(link removed)
-- the WhatDoTheyKnow team"

Yours sincerely,

Mr Glynne Powell.

DWP Health Services Correspondence, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Powell,
 
Please see our response to your recent Freedom of Information request.
 
 
Yours sincerely
 
Correspondence Team |Business & Strategy Management Division | Health
Services Directorate | Finance Group | Department for Work and Pensions |
Green Zone 2nd Floor, West Wing, Phase 2 | Peel Park | Brunel Way |
Blackpool | FY4 5ES |
 
 
 

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Dear DWP Health Services Correspondence,

Thanks for your response. I do recommend that the DWP starts providing further guidance to HCPs to avoid potential litigation toward the DWP. It would reduce stress for the person being examined and it would reduce the amount of taxpayers' money being used by the DWP to defend itself in court.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Glynne Powell.