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Transformation of the personal capability assessment (PCA) introduction
suggested changes to the mental health activities and descriptors
suggested changes to the physical activities and descriptors
combined scores
the position of disability
alliance
more information
Employment and support allowance (ESA) will have a new method of assessment instead of the current pca test used for incapacity benefit.
In 2006, The Department for Work and Pensions commissioned an independent Technical Working Group to carry out a review of the Personal Capability Assessment (PCA) for assessing limited capability for work.
A number of consultative groups looked at different aspects of the pca test with a view to amending it for the new ESA. The first interim report was published in a October 2006 detailing the findings of the physical function and mental health technical working groups. A second report was published in February 2007.
Draft Welfare Reform regulations were published in February 2007.
A further and more extensive Phase 2 evaluation was completed and published in November 2007. This evaluation suggests that the revised PCA is likely to result in more customers being disallowed benefit than is currently the case.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) draws no firm conclusions from these findings as they are still based on a relatively small sample size.
The Technical Working Group’s conclusion in the Phase 2 evaluation is that once some further consideration has been given to some descriptors and scores; and healthcare professionals applying the revised PCA have received full training and guidance, the revised PCA is a reliable and accurate tool for assessing limited capability for work.
The Government is committed to ongoing evaluation of the revised PCA for the first five years after its introduction.
There were 15 suggested activities in the October 2006 report rather than the current 4. These have different descriptors. A number of further recommendations were made in the transformation of the personal capability assessment report - February 2007 which reduced the proposed activities to 11. The 11 activities are now:
The pass mark for mental health activities will be 15. It is possible to score 6, 9 or 15 in any one of the 15 activities.
The current 14 activities have been condensed to 11. These are:
The pass mark for physical activities will be 15. It is possible to score 6, 9 or 15 in any one of the 11 activities.
There are no physical descriptors awarding 3 points though additional descriptors have been added to some activities - for example using a mouse or keyboard has been added to the manual dexterity activity . Some existing descriptors and activities have also been combined - for example those in relation to sitting and standing.
The pass mark for combined mental and physical scores will be 15.
Although Disability Alliance's name has been listed in Annex C of the October 2006 report we were not part of the physical function and mental health technical working groups that authored this report.
We have a number of misgivings about the proposed new assessment and continue to communicate these, via the Disability Benefits Consortium, to the Department for Work and Pensions. We have also produced our response to the transformation of the personal capability assessment paper which you can view from the link below.
Note: for pdf files you will need to download adobe acrobat reader. To convert the pdf to alternative formats or for more information on accessibility go to access adobe.
