ESA, WCA, Atos, Mike Penning
Final evidence sessions for inquiry into ESA and WCA
11 June 2014
On Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 June the Work and Pensions Committee holds the final oral evidence sessions for its inquiry into Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Work Capability Assessments (WCA).
- Parliament TV: Watch the Monday 9 June evidence session
- Parliament TV: Watch the Wednesday 11 June evidence session
- Inquiry: Employment Support Allowance and Work Capability Assessments
- Work and Pensions Committee
Monday 9 June
4.30pm, Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Witnesses
- Lisa Coleman, Senior Vice President, Health Market, Atos
- Dr Angela Graham, Clinical Director, Atos Healthcare
- Helen Hall, Head of Communications and Customer Relations, Atos Healthcare
Purpose of the meeting
The session will consider:
- Atos’s role in the process before the face to face assessment and claimants’ experience of the process
- The design and delivery of the WCA
- The contract for delivering the WCA, including the relationship between quality and productivity, and Atos’s early exit from the contract
- The ESA decision-making process, including outcomes and appeals
Future delivery of the WCA
Wednesday 11 June
9.30am, Grimond Room
Witnesses
Department for Work and Pensions
- Rt Hon Mike Penning MP, Minister of State for Disabled People
- Jason Feeney CBE, Benefits Director
- James Bolton, Deputy Director, Health and Wellbeing Directorate
- Iain Walsh, Deputy Director, Working Age Benefits Division
Purpose of the session
The session will consider:
- The effectiveness of the WCA, including the findings of the Evidence Based Review
- Key concerns about the delivery of the WCA by Atos, and how these issues may be resolved with the new provider
- The ESA decision-making process
- ESA outcomes and reassessments
- Mandatory reconsideration and appeals
- The interaction between ESA and Universal Credit