NHS appointments and being asked about benefits

I'm not sure if this is a new thing or not, looking to find out other people's views. It seems to be a thing now not only to ask if you are working, but I'm being asked if I'm on benefits and then being asked which ones, and at what level I'm receiving them. This was at NHS physio and podiatry appointments. It seems a little invasive.

Some NHS physio and podiatry is non NHS funded and therefore you pay for it, however some LA's do have a system whereby if on benefits you do not have to pay for it. so really not intrusive a question in fact a bonus for those luckily on IR ESA, whereas once again those on CB ESA luck out once more.