To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether people remaining on incapacity benefit are to be reassessed by the eligibility criteria used for those seeking to claim the employment and support allowance; (274615)

Individuals who apply for employment and support allowance will be asked to undertake a work capability assessment which will be used in determining their eligibility for the benefit. This differs from those currently claiming incapacity benefits, who will have undertaken a personal capability assessment. The work capability assessment follows a similar format to the personal capability assessment, as a points based assessment, but has been developed to provide a more accurate assessment of an individual's limited capability for work in the modern workplace.

The new assessment is more positive than its predecessor, focusing on what an individual can do as well as what they cannot. It includes a work focused health related assessment which helps individual's identify and consider ways to overcome their specific challenges to work. The mental function aspect of the assessment has also been expanded and developed to take better account of cognitive and intellectual function.

We have announced that we plan to migrate existing recipients of incapacity benefits to employment and support allowance. Recipients will have to undertake this same work capability assessment.