Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Benefits and money
  3. Benefits and financial support
  4. Ill or injured
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - keep distance, wear face covering, wash hands, fresh air

Attending a face-to-face health assessment safely during COVID-19

As part of your claim for some benefits, or a review of an existing claim, you may need to have a face-to-face health assessment. This page has the information you need if you have to go to an assessment during Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.

This information is for Northern Ireland only, if you live in England, Scotland or Wales visit GOV.UK

When a face-to-face assessment may be needed

Benefits that may need you to go to a face-to-face assessment as part of your claim include:

  • Attendance Allowance (AA)
  • Employment and Support Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Universal Credit

The Department for Communities and its assessment providers have put a range of measures in place so that any assessments can take place safely, following the latest COVID-19 restrictions and guidance.

You might find it helpful to read this page before you go to your assessment.

Before your assessment

Your appointment letter will include extra information about coming to your assessment. Read this letter before your assessment.

Before travelling, so you can plan your journey, read the latest guidance available at the following link:

  • Safer travel guidance for public transport users

If you are or have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable, you should also read the guidance to help you in taking extra precautions:

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19):  guidance for people at higher risk from COVID-19

Help protect you and staff and cut the risk of anyone spreading or getting Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Do not come to your assessment if any of the following reasons apply:

  • you or anyone coming with you has symptoms of COVID-19
  • you or anyone coming with you is following guidance to self-isolate for any reason, including after entering Northern Ireland from abroad
  • you or anyone coming with you has been contacted and advised to stay at home, including anyone identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive

If any of these reasons apply to you, contact the assessment provider straight away using the contact details in your appointment letter. They will rearrange your assessment for you.

For more information on COVID-19, the symptoms and when to self-isolate, read these pages:

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): symptoms
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): self-isolating

Who you can bring with you to your assessment

To help maintain social distancing and to cut any risk, come to your assessment alone wherever possible.

If you need to have someone with you to support you, you can bring one adult.

If you need to bring someone with you, or you also need support from an interpreter or support worker, contact the assessment provider to talk about this. The assessment provider will need to know so that they can make sure there is enough space to socially distance during your assessment.

Do not bring any children with you to your assessment. If you have a child or children and cannot make childcare arrangements, contact the assessment provider straight away using the contact details in your appointment letter so they can talk about the best way to carry out your assessment.

Face coverings

The Department for Communities and its assessment providers need face coverings to be worn in its buildings.

You, and anyone who comes with you to your assessment, must wear a suitable face covering when you come to your appointment unless you have a reason for not wearing one in line with government guidance:

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): face coverings

If you do not already have a face covering when you come to your assessment, a disposable one can be given when you arrive at the assessment centre.

If you, or anyone coming with you, is exempt from wearing a face covering, contact the assessment provider straight away using the contact details in your appointment letter. This is to make sure the right safety measures are in place to keep you and staff safe during your assessment.

The assessment centre

The assessment centres have been adapted for COVID-19 to offer a safe environment for you and the staff working there.

When you come to your assessment, follow any signs or markings both outside and inside the assessment centre. Remember to socially distance, keeping two metres apart from anyone including anyone coming with you. You should also wear a face covering before you enter the assessment centre, and keep it on while you are inside.

There will be staff at the assessment centre entrance to let you know when you can enter. To cut the amount of time you will have to wait and to help with social distancing, do not arrive more than 10 minutes before your appointment start time.

Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the assessment centre for you to use and any reception areas and signing-in desks will have clear screens in place to help keep everyone safe.

If you need to hand in any documents, for example identity documents, or medical information, give these to the receptionist.

If you need to wait before you can go into your assessment, the assessment centre staff will tell you where you can wait. Any waiting areas will be set-up to allow for social distancing.

Follow any signs and instructions displayed at the assessment centre. There may be one way systems in place, and the number of people allowed to use any lifts will be limited to allow social distancing.

Where possible the assessment provider will make sure a supply of fresh air in the assessment room. For example, they may open windows or doors but will always make sure your privacy and safety is maintained.

Toilet facilities will be available at the assessment centre. Follow the instructions on site or ask a member of staff.

During your assessment

All assessment rooms allow for two metres social distancing between you and anyone you bring with you. If you need support from an interpreter or support worker, contact the assessment provider to talk about this.

You and anyone you bring with you, should keep your face covering on during the assessment. The healthcare professional will also keep their face covering on.

During your assessment, the healthcare professional will observe you at a distance of two metres while you show any movements. They will not come into physical contact with you.

For Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) assessments, the healthcare professional may need to physically examine you but they will wear extra personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a face shield, an apron and gloves.

If the healthcare professional suspects you, or anyone with you, may have COVID-19 symptoms, they may stop the assessment. You will be asked to go straight home, maintaining social distancing and minimising contact with others. You should follow the Government guidance to self-isolate with your household and arrange for a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.

After each assessment, the room used will be cleaned, especially areas such as door handles, chair arms, desks and other places that are touched most. Every room will be cleaned, ready for the next appointment.

Leaving the assessment centre

Your assessor will make sure the corridor is clear before you leave the room.

You will be asked to leave the building as soon as possible, to cut the number of people in the assessment centre at any one time.

  • Contacting 08 and 03 numbers
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Ill or injured

  • Attending a face-to-face health assessment safely during COVID-19
  • Benefits if you are living with a terminal illness
  • Changes to benefits if you're ill or have a disability
  • Claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance
  • Claim New Style Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Compensation recovery
  • Employment and Support Allowance
  • Help with health costs
  • Hospital Travel Costs Scheme
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Infected Blood Payment Scheme
  • Permitted work
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Reduced Earnings Allowance
  • Review of your incapacity benefits if you live abroad
  • Statutory Sick Pay
  • Universal Credit if you have a health condition or disability

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS