What is our approach to award reviews?

When carrying out an award review, case managers should:

• consider existing information where still relevant, and use previous decisions to avoid asking unnecessary questions
• use the principles of decision-making that underpin our disability benefits system and all decisions, such as taking a trust-based approach
• make use of appropriate decision-making tools, where needed, to further reduce the need for intrusive questions
• in reviews that do require supporting information, take our usual approach to supporting information, including establishing good cause, where appropriate. If you need to gather supporting information, this should be done in alignment with guidance in the Gathering Supporting Information chapter.

How much work a review decision will require depends on the complexity of the individual case.  

Award reviews might be more complex due to, for example:

• The individual reports something unexpected, such as an unexpected change in needs, or a lack of change where a change had been expected
• The reported change in condition is relatively recent and the individual is still adapting to new treatment or their new level of need.

This list is not exhaustive.