Sharing new details to the official government algorithm database, the department says it is using an AI tool called ‘online medical matching’ to help agents make decisions on applications for Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
However, the DWP says the ESA matching tool is has a low risk of bias as no personal details about the claimant are provided to the AI model, just the medical condition(s) they share.
The department’s risk assessment of the tool also addresses the possibility that its use makes any human agent’s decision less meaningful, saying: “To mitigate this, staff have received training to ensure they check the result, and do not simply accept the result provided by the solution.”.
Asked in September to share the list under the freedom of information act, the department responded: “Allowing public authorities like the DWP to choose how and when they publish information is of significant public interest.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed how it is using AI to inform decisions on whether to approve or deny certain benefit applications.
