Page 105 - Reforming Benefits Decision-Making

would also be helpful to make the videos available in a range of different key
languages, or at least subtitle them in a range of languages.

4.13 Videos explaining the processes for applying for benefits, how to prepare
for, and what to expect at health and disability assessments and the initial
interview and providing information on sanctions, would help people
better understand these processes. Whilst some videos already exist,
further research should be conducted into the most engaging and
comprehensible format and length for these and the subject matter they
cover should expanded. They should also be subtitled in a number of
different languages, be prominently displayed on relevant webpages and
links to them provided in DWP correspondence.

Accessibility of information

4.14 As of August 2020, there were four million people in receipt of PIP or its
predecessor Disability Living Allowance, 1.9 million people in receipt of
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ESA and just under one million people on UC with no work requirements,
meaning health or caring responsibilities prevent them from working. This
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means that there are significant numbers of claimants who have health
conditions or disabilities. It is therefore crucial that information on benefits is
accessible and capable of being read and understood by these claimants.

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4.15 DWP has created a set of easy read standards and are developing easy read
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products. There are a number of easy read leaflets on PIP covering: (i) an

298 DWP, ‘DWP benefits statistics: February 2021’ (February 2021).
299 DWP, Stat-Xplore: People on Universal Credit, Table 1 – Conditionality. Some people in receipt of
ESA and with no work requirements on UC will also be in receipt of PIP therefore it is not possible to
determine the total number of claimants with health conditions or disabilities.
300 The concept of “easy read” is an approach to writing and drafting developed to help people with
language difficulties understand information more easily, using short, simple sentences and pictures.
See for example the organisation Change, which develops easy read documents for a variety of
situations, https://www.changepeople.org/
301 B. Railton, ‘How DWP used the easy read format to make its content more accessible’ (11 October
2019).

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