New development: The commodification of social security medical assessments-academic analysis and practitioner experience

This article explores the issues caused by the commodification of medical assessments which determine eligibility for social security benefits in the UK, with a focus on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)/Universal Credit (UC). Commercial companies have become a mainstay in the assessment processes for welfare benefits, and yet the standard of service they provide has drawn criticism from a wide range of stakeholders. The authors contend that the current system of commodified medical assessments is fundamentally flawed and argue for an alternative approach. However, while the current system remains, it is important that vulnerable benefit claimants are supported with the process and, consequently, the academic analysis in the article is accompanied with a set of best practice guidelines developed by a welfare rights practitioner.