When an assessment may be carried outN.I.
42.—(1) The Department may carry out an assessment under this Part where—
(a)it falls to be determined for the first time whether a claimant has limited capability for work or for work and work-related activity, or
(b)there has been a previous determination and the Department wishes to determine whether there has been a relevant change of circumstances in relation to the claimant's physical or mental condition or whether that determination was made in ignorance of, or was based on a mistake as to, some material fact,
but subject to paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) If the claimant has monthly earnings that are equal to or exceed the relevant threshold, the Department may not carry out an assessment under this Part unless—
(a)the claimant is entitled to attendance allowance, disability living allowance or personal independence payment, or
(b)the assessment is for the purposes of reviewing a previous determination that a claimant has limited capability for work or for work and work-related activity that was made on the basis of an assessment under this Part or under Part 4 or 5 of the ESA Regulations,
and, in a case where no assessment may be carried out by virtue of this paragraph, the claimant is to be treated as not having limited capability for work unless they are treated as having limited capability for work or for work and work-related activity by virtue of regulation 40(6) or 41(5).
(3) The relevant threshold for the purposes of paragraph (2) is the amount that a person would be paid at the hourly rate set out in regulation 4 of the National Minimum Wage Regulations for 16 hours per week converted to a monthly amount by multiplying by 52 and dividing by 12.
(4) If it has previously been determined on the basis of an assessment under this Part or under Part 4 or 5 of the ESA Regulations that the claimant does not have limited capability for work, no further assessment is to be carried out unless there is evidence to suggest that—
(a)the determination was made in ignorance of, or was based on a mistake as to, some material fact, or
(b)there has been a relevant change of circumstances in relation to the claimant's physical or mental condition.