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The Department for Work and Pensions is calling thousands of people forward for a face-to-face interview. Data shows 4,000 face-to-face assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were conducted in August. Under a DWP PIP shake-up and welfare reform, which is aimed at trimming the ballooning welfare bill, it is believed MORE claimants will be called forward to be assessed in-person. Labour Party MP Sir Stephen Timms has previously said the DWP “will increase the number of health professionals in assessment centres” in order to “increase the number of face-to-face, rather than remote, PIP assessments”. READ MORE State pensioners getting second £200 payment on top of Winter Fuel Allowance He told MPs during the last DWP oral questions session that “it is important to keep telephone or video alternatives for those who need them”. The purpose of the assessment is to understand how your illness, health condition or disability affects your daily life. A qualified and trained healthcare professional will carry out your assessment. All our healthcare professionals are qualified doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and paramedics, and are trained to carry out your assessment. Assessments should last between 20 minutes and one hour but may take longer if more time is needed. After the assessment, the healthcare professional will complete a report using guidelines given to them by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The report will be sent to DWP to tell them about your disability, illness or health conditions and the usual things you do every day. DWP will review the report, make their decision and inform you of this in writing. If you requested to record your assessment, you will receive a copy of your recording through the post after the assessment. Ingenus, which runs the assessments in some regions, said: "We may invite you to complete a satisfaction survey to help us improve our service. Additionally, a third-party organisation (on behalf of DWP) may ask for your feedback."
