Information about telephone assessments

Information about telephone assessments

 

We may invite you to have a Work Capability Assessment by telephone. Instead we may invite you to have a Work Capability Assessment by telephone. If this is the case, you will receive a telephone call or a letter from the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) to invite you to attend a telephone appointment and to provide you with further details of the assessment.

It may take some time for us to contact all customers. You do not need to contact us. If we do not invite you to a telephone assessment, we will contact you with details of a face-to-face assessment as soon we can.

What to expect at your telephone assessment

A registered and qualified healthcare professional will carry out your telephone Work Capability Assessment. They will discuss your capability to do daily tasks with your disability, illness or health condition. The healthcare professional will ask you questions and note down your answers.

The telephone assessment should last between 20 minutes and 1 hour, but could take longer if necessary. You can have someone with you at your telephone assessment to offer help and support. This would usually be the person who knows you best and understands you and your needs. For example, this may be a relative, support worker or friend but they must be 16 years old or over.

How to prepare for your telephone assessment

Be ready for the healthcare professional to call you 10 minutes before the time of your telephone appointment. Ensure your phone is fully charged. Find a quiet place with good signal and no background noise. Think about what will make the telephone call more comfortable, for example using headphones and having a drink of water available.

Frequently asked questions

 

What will happen if I do not attend a telephone assessment?

You must attend your assessment. If you do not attend your benefit may be stopped. If you have a good reason why you cannot attend, please call the appointments help desk on 0800 288 8777 as soon as possible.

 I missed my telephone assessment appointment, what do I do?

You should contact the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) on 0800 288 8777 as soon as possible.

I cannot get medical evidence from my GP/Hospital to support my Work Capability Assessment at this time? What can I do?

If you cannot get this, DWP will try and make their decision based on what you say at the telephone assessment and any other information they already have.

What if I want someone with me during the telephone assessment?

As with face-to-face appointments, you can have someone with you at your telephone assessment to offer help and support. This would usually be the person who knows you best and understands you and your needs. For example, this may be a relative, support worker or friend but they must be 16 years old or over. They may be able to speak on your behalf and can offer useful support. However, the assessment will focus on you and the answers you give.

You can have someone with you at your telephone assessment to offer help and support. This would usually be the person who knows you best and understands you and your needs. For example, this may be a relative, support worker or friend but they must be 16 years old or over. We will ask you for their number and they will need to be ready to answer the phone at the time of your appointment.

What if I need a language interpreter?

Please let us know as soon as possible on 0800 2888777. A relative or friend can be present at your telephone assessment to interpret for you, but they must be 16 years old or over.

How long will a telephone Work Capability Assessment last?

The telephone assessment should last between 20 minutes and 1 hour, but may take longer if necessary.