DWP video assessments for PIP, Universal Credit and ESA benefit claimants could increase after new deal announced
12.01.2022 - 18:05
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has awarded a multi-million-pound contract to leading video specialist provider, Involve Visual Collaboration Limited, to host and record video assessments for health benefit claimants as an alternative to face-to-face meetings.
The initial two-year contract is worth £3.95 million, with the option to extend it for a further two years, making it worth up to £7.79m in total.
The contract forms a critical part of the DWP’s Strategic Digital Video Project, which is increasing efficiencies and cost savings by virtualising the benefits service available to claimants across the UK, a situation which has been accelerated as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
A recent DWP National Statistics report revealed that the total number of benefit claimants increased rapidly during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising from 20.5 million in February 2020 to 23 million in February 2021.
Due to the economic disruption caused by coronavirus, the DWP sought alternative ways to be able to support customers in a cost-effective, timely and efficient way, while keeping public sector workers safe.
The DWP’s priority is to deliver accessible, effective, and fair services to all customers, and assessments have traditionally been completed via face-to-face consultations.
However, to respond to the increase in benefit claimants resulting from the pandemic and overcome the challenges customers may face in attending in-person appointments, the DWP introduced video call assessments for certain benefits and business areas.
These include:
As part of this significant contract, Involve will support and manage cloud-based SaaS technology in collaboration with its partner, Induction Healthcare Group,